
Qass. 
Book. 



Fii.1 



Mi^ 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. OWEN, Director 



BULLETIN No. 1 



THE 

ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION 

ACTIVITIES AND ASPIRATIONS 

OF THE 

Department of Archives and History 



STATE OF ALABAMA 



COMPILED BY THE DIRECTOR 



MONTGOMEKT, ALA.! 
THE BROWN PtllNTIXG CO., PKINTEIIB AND BINDERS. 

1904. 



/ 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. OWEN, Director 

BULLETIN No. 1 



^ ^ .y 



THE 

Establishment, Organization 
activities and aspirations 



OF THE 



Department of Archives and History 



STATE OF ALABAMA 



COMPILED BY THE DIRECTOR 



MONTGOMERY, Kl.K.'. 

THE BROWN PRINTING CO.. PRINTERS AND BINDBR9. 

1904. 






Copyright, 1904 
By Department of Archives and History 



m 20 ;ii06 

D.ofa 



PREFATORY NOTE. 

^ The Department of Archives and History, estabHshed by act 

— of the Legislature approved Feb. 27, 1901, and organized 

?r^ March 2, 1901, has not only vindicated the hopes of patriotic 

f4 Alabamians, but it has also excited very general attention on the 

"^ part of students and others interested in the wise and proper 

solution of the problems of State supported historical work. 

The example set by Alabama has been followed in Mississippi 

by similar legislation, and by intelligent agitation in many other 

States. The successful administration of the Department and 

its almost phenomenal record in accumulating materials, has 

encouraged the belief that such an agency is the very best and 

most satisfactory way of meeting the obligation due by the 

State to its archives (public records) and history. 

Owing to the general interest thus manifested, and in order 
to meet the fnany inquiries received, this Bulletin has been pre- 
pared. It contains an account of the establishment, growth, 
activities and aspirations of the Department, presented with 
considerable fullness and detail. It also contains lists of some 
of the more important accessions, and some expressions of 
commendation and congratulation received from historians and 
students. 

Montgomery, August i, 1904. 



ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHING 
THE DEPARTMENT. 

(General Laws of Alabama, 1900-01, pp. 126- 131.) 

No. 476. AN ACT S. 526. 

To Establish a DkpartmExNT of Archives and History for 
THE State of Alabama, to prescribe its functions and 
duties, and to provide for its maintenance. 

department established, objects and purposes. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Ala- 
bama, That there is established for the State of Alabama a "De- 
partment of Archives and History," to be located in the State 
capitol in apartments to be set aside for its use by the Governor ; 
and the objects and purposes of the said Department are the 
care and custody of official archives, the collection of materials 
bearing upon the history of the State, and of the territory in- 
cluded therein, from tlie earliest times, the completion and pub- 
lication of the State's official records and other historical 
materials, the diffusion of knowledge in reference to the history 
and resources of the State, the encouragement of historical 
work and research, and the performance of such other acts and 
requirements as may be enjoined by law. 

board of trustees, powers, authority and duties. 

Section 2. Be it further enacted, ( i ) That said Department 
shall be under the control of a board of nine trustees, one from 
each Congressional district, and the names of said trustees, 
with their particular terms of service, are as follows, viz : Peter 
J. Hamilton, for the First Congressional District, to serve two 
years; Jefferson M. Falkner, for the Second District, to serve 
two years ; W. D. Jelks, for the Third District, to serve two 
years; J- H. Johnson, for the Fourth District, to serve four 
years ; W. H. Blake, for the Fifth District, to serve four years ; 
Henrv B. Foster, for the Sixth District, to serve four years; 
Oliver D. Street, for the Seventh District, to serve six years; 

(2) 



Act Establishing the Department. 3 

William Richardson, for the Eighth District, to serve six years ; 
and Samuel Will John, for the Ninth District, to serve six 
years, the beginning of the several terms of service for the pur- 
poses of this act to be January i, 1901. (2) The said board 
shall have the power and authority to fill all vacancies occur- 
ring therein, whether by expiration of term of service, or by 
death or resignation, but the names of all newly elected mem- 
bers shall be communicated to the next ensuing regular session 
of the State Senate for confirmation, and in case it shall reject 
any of the said newly elected trustees, it shall proceed forthwith 
to fill the vacancy, or vacancies, by an election. (3) All trustees 
appointed to succeed the present members or their successors 
whose respective terms shall have fully expired shall serve for 
a term of six years, and appointees to fill vacancies by death or 
resignation, shall only serve out the unexpired terms of their 
predecessors. (4) The said board shall, within ten days after 
the approval of this act, proceed to organize said Department. 
It shall hold at the State capitol at least one regular meeting 
during the year, and as many special meetings as may be neces- 
sary, and at said meetings five members shall constitute a quo- 
rum. (5) The Governor of the State shall be ex-officio a 
member of the said board, and he shall as far as possible, lend 
every encouragement to the success and upbuilding thereof. (6) 
The Director hereinafter provided shall be the secretary of the 
board. (7) The trustees shall receive no compensation for their 
services other than the amounts of their traveling expenses 
actually paid out while in attendance on the meetings of the 
board or on the business of the Department. (8) The said 
board is empowered to adopt rules for its own government, and 
also for the government of the Department ; to elect a Director, 
and to provide for the selection or appointment of other officials, 
or employes, as may be authorized ; to provide for the publica- 
tion of historical material pertaining to the State under the 
supervision of the Director ; to have the direction and control of 
the marking of historic sites, or houses, and the exploration of 
prehistoric and Indian mounds and other remains existing in 
the State ; to control and expend such appropriations as may be 
made for the maintenance of the Department; and to do and 
perform such other acts and things as may be necessary to carry 
cut the true intent and purpose of this act. 

(3) 



4 Department of Archives and History. 

THE DIRECTOR, POWERS AXD DUTIES, SALARY. 

* 

Section 3. Be if further enacied, ( i ) That the Department 
shall be under the immediate management and control of a 
Director, to be elected by the board of trustees, whose tertn of 
service shall be six years, and until his successor is elected and 
qualified. (2) He shall take an oath of office as other public 
officials, and shall be commissioned in like manner. (3) He 
shall devote his time to the work of the Department, using- his 
best endeavor to develop and- build it up, so as to carry out the 
design of its creation, and shall receive for his services the sum 
of eighteen hundred ($1,800.00) dollars per annum, payable 
monthly, as other State officials, and a continuing appropriation 
for the said annual salary is hereby made. (4) He shall have 
the control and direction of the work and operations of the De- 
partment, he shall preserve its collections, care for the official 
archives that may come into its custody, collect as far as possi- 
ble all materials bearing upon the history of the State and of 
the territory included therein, from the earliest times, prepare 
the biennial register hereinafter provided, diffuse knowledge in 
reference to the history and resources of the State ; and he is 
charged with the particular duty of gathering data concerning 
Alabama soldiers in the war between the States. (5) He shall 
make an annual report to the board of trustees, to be by them 
transmitted to the Governor, to be accompanied by such histori- 
cal papers and documents as may be deemed of importance by 
him, and the Director shall contract for the printing and bind- 
ing of the said Report, which shall be paid for as other public 
printing and binding. (6) He shall prepare for the press, con- 
tract for and supervise the publication of volume two of the 
Report of the Alabama History Commission, the said volume 
to be similar to volume one of said Report as to printing, paper 
and binding, and to be paid for out of the public printing fund 
to be available after October i, 1901. 

depository for official records. 

Section 4. Be it further enacted. That any State, County or 
other official is herebv authorized and empowered in his discre- 
tion to turn over to the Department for permanent preser\'ation 

(4) 



Act Establishing the Department. 5 

therein any official books, records, documents, original papers, 
newspaper files, and printed books not in current use in their 
offices. When so surrendered copies therefrom shall be made 
and certified by the Director upon the application of any person 
interested, which certification shall have all the force and effect 
as if made by the officer originally in the custody of them and 
for which the same fees shall be charged, to be collected in 
advance. 

OFFICIAL AND STATISTICAL REGISTER. 

Section 5. Be it further enacted. That an official and sta- 
tistical register of the State of Alabama shall be compiled every 
two years by the Director, to contain : ( i ) brief sketches of the 
several State officials, the members of Congress from Alabama, 
the Supreme Court Judges, the members of the Senate and 
House of Representatives of the State of Alabama; (2) rosters 
of all State and county officials; (3) lists of all State institu- 
tions, with officials; (4) State and county population and elec- 
tion statistics. (5) miscellaneous statistics; and said register 
shall be published in an edition of one thousand copies for free 
distribution, the printing and binding to be paid for as other 
printing and binding hereinbefore provided. 

ALABAMA WAR RECORDS. 

Section 6. Be it further enacted. That the Department is 
charged with the duty of making special effort to collect data 
in reference to soldiers from xA-labama in the war between the 
States, both from the War Department at Washington, and also 
from private individuals, and to cause the same to be prepared 
for publication as speedily as possible. 

maintenance fund. 

Section 7. Be it further enacted. That in addition to the 
salarv of the Director hereinabove appropriated, the sum of 
seven hundred ($700.00) dollars annually is hereby appropria- 
ted for the maintenance of the said Department, and the Audi- 
tor is hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the State Treas- 

(5) 



6 Department of Archives and History. 

urer for the whole or any part of the said amount, in such sums 
and in such manner as may be authorized by the board of trus- 
tees. All printing, blanks, circulars, notices, or forms, which 
may be needed for the use of the said Department, that may be 
embraced in class four of the public printing act, shall be exe- 
cuted by the public printer, and shall be paid for as other official 
work done by him. 

Approved February 27, 1901. 



(6) 



CONTENTS. 

Prefatory Note i 

Act Establishing the Department 2 

Contents 7 

introduction g 

I. Organization and Administration ii 

II. Pubhcation I5_ 

III. State and Local Archives 18 

IV. Library 20 

V. Historical Art Gallery 27 

VI. Museum 29 

VII, Alabama War Records 31 

VIII. Diftasion of Knowledge in Reference to the His- 
tory and Resources of the State 38 

IX. Encouragement of Historical Work and Research 40 

X. Special Activities 41 

XL The Department Work as Viewed by Historians, 

Students and Others 45 



(7) 



INTllODUCTION. 



The Department of Archives and History is a separate de- 
partment of the State government, correlating the remaining 
departments of State, charged with a specific body of duties, 
and having a clear, well-defined and hitherto undeveloped field 
of operation. Created by a separate act of the Legislature, 
approved Feb. 2"], 1901, its constitution is to be found fully set 
forth therein. It is maintained through appropriations made in 
the act. and also by an appropriation contained in the general 
appropriation bill of Feb. 13, 1903. 

"The objects and purposes of the said Department are the 
care and custody of official archives, the collection of materials 
bearing upon the histopv' of the State, and of the territor\- in- 
cluded therein, from the earliest times, the completion and 
publication of the State's official records aud other historical 
materials, the diffusion of knowledge in reference to the history 
and resources of the State, the encouragement of historical work 
and research, and the performance of such other acts and 
requirements as may be enjoined by law." 

In order to systematically and clearly meet the requirements 
of the "objects and purposes" set forth in the act of establish- 
ment the work and activities of the department have been re- 
solved and grouped for administrative purposes, into Divisions 
as follows: (i) Administration; (2) Publication: (3) State 
and local archives: (4) Library; (5) Historical art gallery; 
(6) Museum; (7) Alabama war records; (8) Diffusion oi 
knowledge in reference to the history and resources of the 
State: (9) The encouragement of historical work and re- 
search: and (10) Special activities. 

A full and detailed discussion of these groups follows here- 
inafter. 

WH.\T IT IS. AND WHAT IT IS XOT. 

The design of the Department, as must be kept in mind, is to 
care for all of the activities due by the State to its archives 
(public records) and histon-. It is not intended to infringe 

(9) 



10 Department of Archives and History. 

upon the territory, or to perform the duties, directlv or indirect- 
ly, legitimately in the province of the State or Supreme Court 
library, or of the several State officers, or of the State Histor- 
ical Society. 

As hereinbefore stated it fills a hitherto unoccupied field. The 
duties devolved on it have never before been required by law. 
Indeed, no existing State office or institution, under its 
present constitution and equipment, could satisfactorily perform 
the several and multifarious acts required to carry out the ob- 
jects and purposes enjoined in the act of establishment. The 
State and Supreme Court library is charged with the duty of 
collecting and preserving books as such, principally for the use 
of the Supreme Court and its bar. The several State offices, 
departments and boards are concerned with duties relating to 
new and current subjects, and with the accumulations of the 
large body of records in their offices from year to year they do 
not have time to deal. The Alabama Historical Society has 
never been sufficiently strong or cohesive to accomplish the 
historical work normally expected of it, and besides it has never 
had permanent headquarters. 

ADMINISTR.<\TION. 

The administration of the Department is simple. Its head- 
quarters are in the State capitol. It is under the control of a 
board of nine trustees, whose powers and duties are supervis- 
ory. The board holds an annual meeting and is self-perpetuat- 
ing. The "immediate management and control" is vested in a 
Director, who is elected by the board for a term of six years. 
He is qualified and commissioned as other State officers. He 
is as completely and fully in control of the work of his office as 
any other official in the State employ. 

A maintenance fund is provided, out of which necessary 
clerical help is paid, and expenses of postage, express, freight 
and drayage, binding, the purchase of books and other articles 
are met. 



(10) 



I. ORGANIZATION AND ADxMIN- 
ISTKATION. 



BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 

Realizing the importance of wisely and properly embarking 
the Department on its valuable work, the Legislature devised a 
scheme of administration through a self-perpetuating board of 
trustees. This method of administration is not new but its 
direct application to a State office has never before been known 
in Alabama. There are nine trustees, one for each Congres- 
sional district. The board is sub-divided into three groups. 
The trustees each serve for a term of six years. The Governor 
is ex-ofificio a member of the board, and he is particularly 
charged with the duty of lending every encouragement possible 
to its success and upbuilding. The Director is the secretary of 
the board. 

In accordance with the act the board met on March 2, 1901, 
in the private office of the Governor, and proceeded to the or- 
ganization of the Department by the adoption of regulations for 
its government, and by the election of a Director. Regular an- 
nual meetings of the board have since been held on Oct. I, 1901, 
Oct. 7, 1902, and Oct. i, 1903. For their sendees the trustees 
receive no compensation, but they are allowed their "traveling 
expenses actually paid out while in attendance on the meeting- 
of the board or on the business of the Department." 

In the practical operations of the Department the work of the 
board is of course supervisory. This is, however, of the most 
thorough and exacting character. The entire policy of develop- 
ment and growth has been the result of the most careful and 
sympathetic cooperation between the board and the Director. 

The general powers and duties of the board are set forth in 
the act as follows : 

"To adopt rules for its own government, and also for the 
government of the Department ; to elect a Director, and to pro- 
vide for the selection or appointment of other officials, or em- 
ployes, as may be authorized ; to provide for the publication of 

(11) 



12 Department of Archives and History. 

historical material pertaining to the State under the supervision 
cf the Director ; to have the direction and control of the marking 
of historic sites, or houses, and the exploration of prehistoric 
and Indian mounds and other remains existing in the State ; to 
control and expend such appropriations as may be made for the 
maintenance of the Department ; and to do and perform such 
other acts and things as may be necessary to carry out the true 
intent and purpose of this act." 

THE DIRECTOR. 

The Department is "under the immediate management and 
control of a Director," who must take an oath and be commis- 
sioned as other State officials. His term of office is si.x years, 
the same leneth as the term of the judges of the Stnte. The 
duties of the Director are comprehensively set forth in the act 
as follows : 

"He shall devote his time to the work of the Department, 
using his best endeavor to develop and build it up, so as to carry 
out the design of its creation, and shall receive for his services 
the sum of eighteen hundred ($1,800.00) dollars per annum, 
pavable monthly, as other State officials, and a continuing appro- 
priation for the said annual salary is hereby made. 

"He shall have the control and direction of the work and 
operations of the Department, he shall preserve its collections, 
care for the official archives that may come into its custody, 
collect as far as possible all materials bearing upon the history 
of the State and of the territory included therein, from the 
earliest times, prepare the biennial register hereinafter provid- 
ed, diffuse knowledge in reference to the history and resources 
of the State ; and he is charged with the particular duty of 
gathering data concerning Alabama soldiers in the war between 
the States. 

"He shall make an annual report to the board of trustees, to 
be bv them transmitted to the Governor, to be accompanied by 
such historical papers and documents as may be deemed of im- 
]x^rtance bv him. and the Director shall contract for the print- 
ing and binding of the said Report, which shall be paid for as 
other public printing and binding." 

(12) 



Organization and Administration. 13 

On the organization of the Department at its first meeting, 
March 2, 1901, Thomas McAdory Owen, then of Birmingham, 
Jefiferson county, Ala., was elected the first Director, and at once 
entered upon his duties. 

CLERICAL HELP. 

The clerical help of the Department consists of one editorial 
assistant and one stenographer, the former dating from June 
15, 1901, and the latter from Oct. i, 1901. These are appointed 
by the Director, who fixes their compensation. Since Feb. i, 
1904, under Department direction and for its use, an editorial 
assistant has been engaged in the preparation of a "History of 
the Choctaw Indians." 

OFFICE BOOKS. 

In the Department work the following administrative records 
are kept : Accession Register of Books ; Accession Register of 
Relics and all other items received ; Register of Donors ; Manu- 
script Minute Book of the Meetings of the Board of Trustees, 
and an Account of the Expenditure of the Department Main- 
tenance Fund. 

OFFICE AND ROOMS. 

From the beginning the Department has labored under the 
most serious disadvantages resulting from altogether inade- 
quate quarters. Under the act it is required "to be located in 
the State capitol in apartments to be set aside for its use by the 
Governor." All other available space being already occupied, 
after conference with the Governor, the small office, known 
familiarly as the Senate cloak room, was chosen as the business 
office of the Director. Provision for furniture, limited cabinets, 
and shelving followed. The historical art gallery and museum 
are placed on exhibition in the Senate chamber, while the rapid 
accumulation of valuable materials of every description has 
filled all neighboring space. The Senate gallery has recently 
been brought into requisition for the overflow of books and files. 

(13) 



14 Department of Archives and History. 

MAINTENANCE FUND. 

Under Section 7 of the act of estabHshment seven hundred 
dollars annually was appropriated "for the maintenance" of the 
Department. At the session of the Legislature, two years later, 
the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars was voted for "main- 
tenance." Under resolution of the trustees the expenditure of 
this fund is controlled by the Director. Requisitions are drawn 
on the State Auditor, who in turn issues a warrant on the State 
Treasurer therefor. \^ouchers to cover all amounts are taken 
and carefully presers^ed by the Director. His accounts are 
carefully examined and reviewed by the auditing committee of 
the board of trustees each year. They are also examined bv the 
Examiner of Public Accounts. The following are the subjects 
of the several expenditures : Clerical help, books, binding, 
extra printing, stamps, express, freight, drayage, furniture and 
a few miscellaneous items. 

PRINTING. 

The expense for printing the "Official and Statistical Regis- 
ter" and the "Reports" of the Director are borne by the general 
printing fund. Miscellaneous printing is provided for as 
follows : 

"All printing, blanks, circulars, notices, or forms, which may 
be needed for the use of the said Department, that may be em- 
braced in class four of the public printing act, shall be executed 
by the public printer, and shall be paid for as other official work 
done bv him." 



(14) 



II. PUBLICATION, 



Specific direction is made for the publication of a Report of 
the Director, and an Official and Statistical Register, the latter 
to be issued prior to each session of the Legislature. Provision 
is further made for "the completion and publication of the 
State's official records and other historical materials," and also 
for the collection for publication, of data in reference to Ala- 
bama soldiers in the war between the States. 

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 

The Report of the Director is intended to embrace a detailed 
account of the business and the administration of the Depart- 
ment far the period covered, including the formal report made 
by the Director to the trustees, minutes of the meetings of the 
board of trustees, and classified lists of donations. It is to be 
accompanied by such "historical papers and documents" as the 
Director may deem of importance. It is designed that these 
Reports shall be of the highest permanent value. 

OFFICIAL AND STATISTICAL REGISTER. 

The first issue of the Official and Statistical Register ap- 
peared in the spring of 1903 (8vo. pp. 326.) It met a favorable 
reception everywhere, and has proven a most valuable and use- 
ful statistical compilation. The importance of this publication is 
manifest, even on tlie slightest reflection. It has not only a 
present value, but with the passing of the years it will be looked 
to as a partial source at least for the history of the times. The 
absence of such compilations for our previous existence as a 
State only serves to emphasize the necessity for now undertak- 
ing what has been too sadly neglected. The book contains " ( i) 
brief sketches of the several State officials, the members of 
Congress from Alabama, the Supreme Court judges, the mem- 
bers of the Senate and House of Representatives of the State 
of Alabama, (2) rosters of all State and County officials, (3) 
lists of all State institutions, with officials. (4) State and County 
population and election statistics, and (5) miscellaneous statis- 

(15) 



16 Department of Archives and History. 

tics." In addition to the foregoing the issue for 1903 contains 
Hsts of the members of the several Constitutional Conventions 
of Alabama, 1819. 1861. 1865. 1867, 1875, 1901. and a bibliog- 
l)hy of all of their known publications. 

STATE PAPERS. 

Based on the provisional list contained in the Report of the 
Alabama History Commission (1901), pp. 38-40, a scheme has 
been projected for the preparation and publication of a collec- 
tion of the "State's official records." Satisfactory progress has 
been made in the compilation, and several volumes of the series 
are practically ready for the printer. Arrangements have been 
perfected for securing necessary transcripts from Foreign ar- 
chives, and also from Federal collections and the archives of 
adjacent States. The character of this collection is thus defined 
in the Report, supra : 

"These [volumes of State papers] should embrace in full all 
of the documentary material beairing on all parts of its [the 
State] history and development from the first discovery of its 
territory. Historical students want nothing less than full com- 
pilations of all original materials. Several States have already 
responded to this demand in respect to their records, and have 
made liberal expenditures. To do this is a debt due by the State 
of Alabama to its history and to its own and general students." 

The list of volumes in the series is as follows : 

Volume I. — Fundamental charters, proclamations, acts of 
Congress, and constitutions, which affect the territory now em- 
braced in Alabama, from the earliest times to the present. 

\'olunie n. — Documents and papers connected with Spanish 
explorations and occupation of what is now Alabama. 1507- 

1813. 

X^olume HI. — Documents and papers connected with French 

occupation. 1699- 1763. 

\'olume IV. — ^Documents and papers connected with English 
occupation. 1763- 1783. 

Volume Y. — Mississippi and Alabama territorial documents. 
1798-1819. 

Volume VI. — Governors' messages. 1818-1904. 

\'olume VII. — Miscellaneous State documents: Banks and 
Finance. University, Schools, Boundaries, Indians, Interna) 
Improvements, Slavery, etc., etc. 1818-1900. 

(16) 



Publication. 17 

Volume VIII. — Census and population statistics. 1800-1900. 

Volume IX. — Official rcg-ister. iScxd-iqoo. [To include 
full rosters of all State and County officials.] 

Volume X. — Counties and county boundaries. 1800- 1900. 
[To include in full all acts creating, or changing names, estab- 
lishing or changing county sites, or altering boundaries.] 

Volume XI. — Abstracts of the records of the counties of Ala- 
bama. 1800 to 18 19. [To include early deeds, wills, marriage 
records, etc.] 

Volume XII. — War records. [To embrace (i) a reprint of 
the rolls of Revolutionary pensioners who lived in Alabama; 
(2) Rosters of commands from Mississippi, Georgia, Tennes- 
see, North Carolina, and South Carolina, who served in the 
Creek War, 1813-1814; (3) Rosters and documents of the In- 
dian Wars, 1832-1842; (4) Rosters and documents pertaining 
to Alabamians in the Texas Wars; (5) Rosters of Alabamians 
in the Mexican War; (6) Documentary records of Alabama 
in the War between the States ; and (7) Rosters and documents 
of Alabama commands in the Spanish-American War. 

MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS. 

In addition to the foregoing, an elastic provision is made for 
the publication of "other historical materials." In accordance 
therewith much miscellaneous material of value will, from 
time to time, be published. For inclusion in this miscellaneous 
class an Alabama Local History collection is being brought 
together. It will embrace reminiscent and historical articles of 
value which have appeared in newspapers and periodicals, relat- 
ing to counties and towns or other local areas in the State. At 
present these articles are hid away and inaccessible to students. 
It has been with the very greatest difficulty that many of them 
have been located. When published they will form the basis 
for further local historical work. They will show too that our 
people are proud of their history, and that much more has been 
preserv^ed than is popularly believed. 

BULLETINS AND CIRCULARS. 

In connection with the administration of the Department 
occasional "Bulletins" and "Circulars" are issued. This publi- 
cation is the first of the former series. They are for use in dif- 
fusing information, and the development of Department activi- 
ties. 

(17) 



III. STATE AND LOCAL ARCHIVES. 



The official manuscript books, records, documents, letters and 
files of the State, as contained in its several offices, departments 
and boards, are technically the State archives. These are of the 
highest value to the historian. They also have a great practical 
value for business purposes, as oftentimes large property as 
well as delicate personal interests are dependent upon them. 
Since the formation of the territorial government in 1817, 
these records have normally accumulated in large numbers, and 
with the multiplication of offices they have still further increas- 
ed. With limited office room and with the necessity for all 
available space for current business purposes, the early official 
records have in many cases been neglected, and in some in- 
stances have been destroyed. No officer, or administration, is 
chargeable with this neglect, indiflFerence, and inattention. 

In order to remedy the evil and to avoid further losses, the 
legislature, in establishing this Department, not only charged it 
with "the care and custody of official archives," but embodied 
the word "Archives" in the Department designation or title 
itself, thus evidencing its profound interest in the subject. The 
Department is, therefore, for practical purposes, in part a hall 
of records. Its importance, dignity and practical value to the 
people of the State becomes more than ever manifest. 

The words "official archives" are properly construed to mean 
only the manuscript books, records, documents, letters and files 
not in current use. The offices, departments and boards includ- 
ed are the governor, the secretary of State, the auditor, the treas- 
urer, the attorney-general, the superintendent of education, the 
adjutant-general, the commissioner of agriculture and indus- 
tries, the convict bureau, the State board of health, the railroad 
commission, etc.. etc. 

In the Report of the Alabama History Commission (Miscel- 
laneous Collections of the Alabama Historical Society, vol. i), 
1901, pp. 87-114, was given as full an account of the State 
archives as could then be compiled. This compilation was made 
in IQOO, and does not purport to be exhaustive. The lists and 
indications there given have been materially enlarged, and still 

(18) 



State and Local Archives. 19 

further enlargements are anticipated when the collections have 
been thoroughly explored. 

The most interesting and valuable of the State official records 
are those originally preserved in the chief executive department, 
and the offices of the secretary of State, the auditor, the treas- 
urer and the adjutant-general. These consist of correspondence 
received, letter-press copy books, legislative records, constitu- 
tional convention records, elections, census returns, pardons, 
land records and maps, civil official registers, bonds, incorpora- 
tions, military registers, pension records, vouchers, records of 
Alabama troops in the Indian troubles, 1836, the Mexican War, 
1847, ^^'^ the War between the States, etc., etc. 

In the "care" enjoined, the plan of the Department involves 
the assortment, arrangement, labeling, filing, indexing and cata- 
loguing of the entire body of the records committed to its "cus- 
tody." They are thus made easily available for use, consulta- 
tion and transcription by students, lawyers, business men and 
others who may have occasion to consult them. 

COUNTY RECORDS. 

The act of establishment provides (Section 4) that "any 
State, County or other oft'icial is hereby authorized and empow- 
ered in his discretion to turn over to the Department for perma- 
nent preservation therein any official books, records, documents, 
original papers, newspaper files, and printed books not in current 
use in their offices." Some rare and valuable books and files 
have been collected under this authorization, but owing to lack 
of space no special effort has as yet been made to systematically 
bring together the materials contemplated in this provision. 



(19) 



IV. LIBRARY. 



BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS. 

Within the scope of "materials bearing upon the history of 
the State, and of the territory included therein from the earliest 
times," printed sources have been regarded as of first impor- 
tance. From its inception, therefore, ever\- energy possible has 
been devoted to building up a representative collection of books. 
At the annual meeting of the board of trustees of the Depart- 
ment. Oct. I, 1903, the work of the Director in this behalf was 
commended and a resolution was adopted, looking to larger 
growth and expansion, in which he was authorized to "use all 
possible effort and means in enlarging the strength and scope 
of the library." 

Practically no limit has been put upon the materials held 
suitable for preservation. The history of Alabama and of her 
people and institutions cannot be understood and interpreted 
aright save through the annals of the older States of the Union, 
and through the histories of those nations who at varous times 
held swav over her territory. Her civilization, her institutions, 
and her people spring from the former and, through them, still 
further back, from the mother nations beyond the sea. 

Special collections are being made in the following fields : the 
American Indians, the War of the Revolution, the South. An- 
tiquities and Archaeology. Education, Travel, the Negro, 
American Biography and Genealogy, the War between the 
United States and the Confederate States, State and local his- 
tory, and Census documents. 

Of purely local materials, effort is directed to the preserva- 
tion of everything relating even remotely in any way to Ala- 
bama, its institutions, or its people. These materials may be 
roughly classed as 

(i) All books whatever, relating to the State, or any part 
of its history. 

(2) All writings of Alabama authors. 

(3) Official and legislative documents, reports, circulars, 

bulletins, etc., etc. 

(20) 



Library. 21 

(4) Municipal or local documents, reports, etc. 

(5) Religious and church documents and literature. 

(6) Literature of all benevolent institutions — as the Masons. 
etc. 

(7) Educational reports, catalogues, announcements, circu- 
lars, and other documents. 

While the collection of Alabama local materials, included in 
the foregoing list, is far from complete, it already embraces 
several hundred documents and is far ahead of any general or 
special collection elsewhere in the State. Yet it is only a begin- 
ning. It will take years to retrieve what has been lost by the 
neglect and carelessness of the past. 

The number of books in the collection, written by Alabam- 
ians, is quite large. Usually all of our authors promptly res- 
pond to appeals for copies of their writings. 

Many interesting additions have come as gifts or by exchange, 
particularly pamphlets and rare local works. The more valuable 
general items, however, have been secured through sale cata- 
logues, and book auctions. 

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. 

The current history of the State in all its aspects, is to be 
found more completely and fully, and in greater detail, in the 
newspapers of the times than anywhere else. It has therefore 
been deemed particularly important to preserve a complete file 
of every newspaper currently published in the State. In res- 
ponse to requests therefor, publishers have been very obliging, 
and almost all have responded. The Department is now re- 
ceiving about two hundred dailies, weeklies, and irregular issues 
of the State press. In order to increase the strength of the 
collection the Department subscribes for a number of important 
newspapers and periodicals published out of the State ; and 
others are received by exchange. All are carefully arranged, 
and are immediately available for use. Dailies are bound in 
two to four books to the year, and weeklies, three years in one 
book. 

The fourth section of the act of establishment expressly 
authorizes county officials to deposit wiith the Department any 
newspaper files preserved in their offices. Lender this authori- 

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22 Department of Archives and History. 

zation the files of the counties of Escambia, Jefferson, Mobile 
and Montgomery have been received. As soon as adequate 
quarters are secured others will be deposited. 

The number of early files which have been brought together 
is gratifyingly large. In the collection are several files running 
consecutively through a long period, and some date prior to the 
admission of the State into the Union in 1819. There are four 
or five approximately full files for the years 1861 to 1865. De- 
partment Bulletin No. 3, now in preparation, is a "Check List 
of newspaper and periodical files in the Department." Over 
seven hundred and fifty bound books and several hundred rare 
single issues are listed. 

MANUSCRIPTS. 

Students have long recognized the very' great value of the 
manuscripts, papers and correspondence of public men and 
prominent actors in business and political affairs. The discovery 
of such material serves to add to the stock of historical data, as 
well as to correct errors and to add details. Manuscripts of this 
character are to be distinguished from the documentary material 
in State, county and municipal archives. The Department has 
made persistent appeals to families and others having old letters 
and manuscripts, to deposit them in its collections for historical 
purposes, and also for better preservation. The response has 
not been general, but it is sufficiently so to demonstrate the 
importance of the effort. Of several hundred manuscripts re- 
ceived, the following list contains some of the more important 
groups, in addition to the special collections hereinafter noted, 
viz : 

Copy of the commonly designated "Stiggins Manuscript," a 
history of the Creek Indians, compiled by George Stiggins, the 
original being in the Draper MSS. in the Wisconsin State His- 
torical Society, Madison. 

Diary for 1862, kept by Alpheus Baker, brigadier-general 
from Alabama, C. S. A. 

Original manuscript of Dr. J. Marion Sims's Story of My 
Life, (1886.) 

Military papers of James Jackson, colonel 47th Alabama 
Regiment, C. S. A. 

Papers of Gen. Ira Foster. 

(22) 



Library. 23 

Papers of Gen. EHsha Y. Fair. 

]\Ianuscript Journal of James A. Tait in the Creek War, 
1813-1814. 

Military papers of James F. Waddell, major of artillery, C. 
S.A. 

Military papers of Moses Wright Hannon, brigadier-general 
from Alabama, C. S. A. 

Military papers of Zach C Deas, brigadier-general from Ala- 
bama, C. S. A. 

Original order of Gen. Rosecrans, U. S. A., May 24, 1863. 

Papers of Thomas B. Cooper, State senator and political 
leader. 

Manuscripts and papers of Hon. Boiling Hall, M. C. from 
Ga., 1811-1817, also of his son Boiling Hall, and of Boiling 
Hall, Jr., (col. 59th Alabama regiment, C. S. A.) 

Manuscript volume, containing orders, etc., of Gen. W. H. 
Jackson's Cavalry Division, C. S. A., 1863-1864. 

Papers of Thomas Malone, an early settler and official of 
Alabama. 

Manuscript minutes of the Lowndes circuit, Alabama confer- 
ence, Methodist Protestant Church, 1867-1879. 

Papers of Col. Gilbert Christian Russell, soldier in the Creek 
War, and early settler in Alabama. 

Military papers of James D. Webb, col. 51st Alabama regi- 
ment, C. S. A. 

Original manuscript of the farewell address of Col. John T. 
Morgan to the 51st Alabama regiment, C. S. A., on his promo- 
tion as brigadier-general, 1863. 

Collection of about one hundred autograph letters, received by 
Miss Louise Manly in the preparation of her work on Southern 
Literature (1895-1900). 

Letters of Thomas D. and Virginia (Powell) Clarke, 1837- 
1849. 

Original commission of Sutton S. Scott, "Commissioner of 
Indian Affairs," C. S. A., dated Feb. 26, 1863. 

Old record book of the Jackson (Alabama) Town Company, 
1815-1817. 

A bound volume of President's autographs, containing letters 
of all the presidents of the United States from George Wash- 
ington to Theodore Roosevelt. 

Papers of William Wirt Allen, major-general from Alabama, 
C. S. A., and late of Montgomery, consisting of more than two 

(23) 



24 Department of Archives and History. 

hundred orig-inal manuscript orders, reports, letters, notes and 
other documents relating to his several commands, also thirty 
original manuscript and other maps of the War period, and six 
printed orders. 

MAPS AND CHARTS. 

The opportunity to secure many additions to this branch of the 
library has been limited. A good beginning, however, has been 
made, and several atlases, wall maps and original manuscript 
maps have been secured. Apart from the original unpublished 
maps noted below, the most valuable in the collection is a copy 
of La Tourrette's first Map of Alabama (1838), in almost per- 
fect condition. The Department proposes to secure copies of 
early French, Spanish and British maps, also all State maps, 
and maps of districts, counties, and towns. Some of its manu- 
script maps in addition to original maps among the land records, 
are the following : 

Drawing of Fort Morgan, by Julius H. Bayol, Feb. 12, 1861. 

Original manuscript map of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, 
March 27, 1814. 

Original manuscript map of the Battle of Talladega, Nov. 
9, 1813. 

Manuscript map (blue print) of Old St. Stephens, Ala. 

Original map of Cahaba, first capital of Alabama, 18 18. 

Original map or drawing of Fort Mims. 1813. 

Original maj) of the old town of Autaugaville, Ala. 

About thirty original manuscript and other maps of the War 
period, 1861-1865. 

Large blue print copy of the Bernard Romans' Map of 1772. 

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. 
Yancey Manuscripts and Papers. 

Possibly the greatest evidence yet given of confidence in the 
growth of the Department has been shown by the familv of 
William L. Yancey in the presentation by them of all his manu- 
scripts and papers. In a general way these may be said to 
embrace several large scrap-books, filled with personal and polit- 
ical data for the w^hole period of his life, several bound files 

(24) 



Library. 25 

of newspapers, bound volumes of his speeches and addresses, 
and a number of manuscript letters and documents. Included in 
the collection are a number of relics. A life-size oil portrait was 
contributed by his only daughter, Mrs. Mary (Yancey) Harrell, 
late of Birmingham. 

CxTRRY Collection. 

The most important gift of books and documents yet received 
is practically the whole of the large private library of the late 
Dr. J. L. M. Curry, consisting of about one hundred and fifty 
volumes of pamphlets, and special collections of books on South- 
ern history, education, and the negro. The pamphlets are the 
gift of his son, Capt. Walker Curry, while the remainder of the 
collection was presented by Mrs. Alice (Thornas) Connally, the 
representative of the estate of her sister, Mrs. Curry. Mrs. 
Connally also included in the donation a volume of the auto- 
graphs of the presidents of the United States, several personal 
relics of Dr. Curry, and a most excellent life-size oil portrait. 
The importance and value of the pamphlet collection, comprising 
substantially twenty-five hundred separate pieces cannot be too 
strongly emphasized. 

Remnant of Pickett Historical Library. 

Every one will agree in the high estimate which should be 
placed on Col. Albert J. Pickett as Alabama's principal historian. 
An unusual interest attaches to his life, the inception and prog- 
ress of his historical studies, and to everything" said or done by 
him. For a special Pickett collection, the Department has been 
able to secure about sixty volumes, all of which were used by 
him in the preparation of his History of Alabama, (1851.) 
Apart from the intrinsic value of these books, they have a sen- 
timental value to which lovers of history cannot be insensible. 
Col. M. L. Woods, a son-in-law of Col. Pickett, has added a 
number of old original letters and papers. Among the latter 
are several written from Charleston during the time Col. Pick- 
ett was there, superintending the publication of his work. In 
the latter gift are also original drawings of maps of Fort Mims 
and of the old town of Autaugaville, Ala. 



(25) 



26 Department of Archives and History. 

Meek Collection. 

William C. Meek, Esq., of Columbus, Miss., has enriched the 
Department collections by the gift of several interesting articles 
relating to his uncle, the late Judge A. B. Meek. The principal 
item is an unpublished "History of Alabama," left unfinished 
by Judge Meek at the time of his death in 1865. He was the 
earliest student of Alabama history, contributing a series of 
historical sketches to the Southron, published in Tuscaloosa, 
as early as 1839. The manuscript referred to is in excellent con- 
dition, and the narrative is practically complete from the earliest 
times to about 1819. Included in the donation are also several 
manuscript poems, and other literary manuscripts and scrap- 
books of Judge Meek, an excellent life-size oil portrait, the sword 
carried by him in the Creek and Seminole Wars of 1836, and a 
lot of newspaper files preserved by him. 

Lewis Manuscripts. 

The manuscripts and papers of William Terrell Lewis, late 
of Louisville, Winston county, Miss., secured for the Depart- 
ment through the interposition and assistance of Prof. Henry S. 
Halbert, is a rich collection of genealogical material. Mr. Lewis 
began a correspondence, lasting fifty years, with various parties 
in the United States, especially in the South, on genealogical 
and historical subjects. During the course of a long life this 
correspondence had become quite voluminous and every letter 
was carefully preserved by him. He corresponded with 
Dr. Lyman C. Draper, with Col. J. F. H. Claiborne, 
Generals Wm. Barksdale and John A. Quitman, of Mis- 
sissippi and with many eminent citizens of Virginia, the 
Carolinas, Tennessee. Kentucky and Alabama. This cor- 
respondence, an historic mine, will be of incalculable 
service to students of the history of Southern families. The 
correspondence extends from about 1834 to 1891. 



(26) 



V. HISTORICAL ART GALLERY. 



The collection of a gallery of representative portraits, views 
and likenesses of persons and scenes in Alabama history has 
been one of the conspicuous forms of Department activity. 

The oil paintings, crayons, views, and photographs already 
brought together have far exceeded the most sanguine expecta- 
tions. These number several hundred, and, placed on exhibi- 
tion in the Senate chamber, form one of the most attractive 
features of interest in the historic old capitol. In the collection 
are some specimens from the masters. Collections of photo- 
graphs are being made of the members of the Alabama consti- 
tutional conventions of 1819, 1861, 1865, 1867, 1875 and 1901, 
also of all the principal officers of Alabama commands in the war 
between the States, also of Alabama historians, scientists, finan- 
ciers, novelists, poets, industrial leaders, educators, journalists, 
political leaders, etc., etc. 

Effort is directed to securing the following general classes 
for exhibition and permanent preservation, viz : (i) Likeness- 
es of all persons prominent in Alabama history as well as of all 
prominent persons; (2) Drawings or photographs of historic 
localities, historic houses, and beautiful or picturesque scenery 
in the State; (3) Collections of engravings and art volumes; 
(4) Statuary, bronzes, etc., of any subject; (5) Valuable 
paintings, or drawings, of any subject. 

OIL PORTRAITS. 

The list below embraces the collection of oil portraits only : 

William Wirt Allen, major-general, C. S. A. ; 

Dr. S. Ames, physician and surgeon ; 

James Osgood Andrew, bishop of AI. E. Church, South ; 

Mrs. Caroline (Bird) Beeman (2nd marriage), mother of 
William L. Yancey ; 

Dr. Nathan Bozeman, physician and surgeon ; 

Braxton Bragg, general, C. S. A. ; 

M. J. Bulger, brigadier-general, C. S. A. ; 

E. C. Bullock, journalist, and colonel i8th Ala. regiment, C. 
S.A.; 

(27) 



28 Department of Archives and History. 

James Holt Clanton, brigadier-general, C. S. A. ; 

Henry DeLamar Clayton, major-general, C. S. A. ; 

William Cooper, lawyer ; 

William Crawford, second federal judge in Alabama; 

Mrs. William Crawford, his wife; 

Oliver Fitts, superior court judge, Miss. Territory; 

Benjamin Fitzpatrick, governor and U. S. senator; 

Isham Warren Garrott, brigadier-general, C. S. A. ; 

Dr. Lafayette Guild, medical director, Army of N. Va. ; 

Henry W. Hilliard, political leader, member of Congress ; 

George S. Houston, member of Congress, governor and U. S. 
senator ; 

Robert Jemison, Confederate States senator ; 

Ephraim Kirby, first superior court judge in what is now Ala- 
bama, 1804; 

Robert Fulwood Ligon, lieutenant-governor of Alabama ; 

Tennent Lomax, brigadier-general, C. S. A. ; 

Tennent Lomax, Jr., law^yer and political leader ; 

Col. John McKee, Indian agent and member of Congress. 

William D. Martin, member of Congress from S. C. ; 

Alexander B. Meek, poet, jurist and historian ; 

John T. Milner, "captain of industry ;" 

Edward H. Moren, lieutenant-governor of Alabama ; 

J. T. Morgan, brigadier-general. C. S. A., and U. S. senator; 

Charles T. Pollard, "captain of industr\- ;" 

James R. Powell, "Duke of Birmingham ;" 

E. W. Pettus. brigadier-general, C. S. A., and U. S. senator; 

Francis Leigh Pettus, law^yer and political leader; 

Howell Rose, political leader and business man ; 

Reuben Saffold. chief justice of Alabama ; 

Mrs. Reuben Saffold, his wife ; 

John Caldwell Calhoun Sanders, brigadier-general, C. S. A. ; 

Emma Sansom, Alabama girl heroine, 1863 ; 

Winthrop Sargent, first governor of the Mississippi Territory ; 

John Gill Shorter, w^ar governor of Alabama, 1861-1863; 

Dr. J. Marion Sims, physician and surgeon ; 

Henry M. Tarrant, early settler in Jeft'erson county, 1819; 

L. P. Walker, first Confederate States secretary of war ; 

Dr. John Allan Wyeth. physician and surgeon ; 

William L. Yancey, distinguished political leader, member of 
Congress, and Confederate States senator. 

(28) 



VI. MUSEUM. 



The installation of a museum is appropriately considered as 
embraced in the scope of the duties and activities of the Depart- 
ment. While attractive as a mere exhibition of rare and curious 
objects of an antiquarian character for the entertainment of 
visitors, the plan projected is designed and is being developed 
as a part of a comprehensive collection of historical materials. 
Apart from the obligation due the past to preserve its memorials, 
such things are in themselves of the greatest value as illustrat- 
ing the times of which they are the surviving evidences. So 
comprehensive is the Department plan that the collection to be 
built up is designed to embrace each and every object or article 
which properly comes within the scope of museum collection. 
These include among other things : 

(i) Relics of pioneers and pioneer life, as articles of dress, 
implements of labor, implements of the chase, and household 
furnishings. 

(2) Relics and personal belongings of eminent Alabamians, 
as library desks or tables, chairs, knives, dirks, dueling pistols 
or other fire arms, stock, knee or shoe-buckles, drinking cups, 
watches, chains, snuff-boxes and canes. 

(3) War relics, as uniforms, sw'ords, arms and equipment. 
This includes all w^ars of the United States, for there are known 
to be a number of Revolutionary relics in Alabama. 

(4) Indian relics, as pottery, weapons of all kinds, personal 
ornaments, specimens of modern Indian handicraft. 

(5) Modern work, when specially notable from being unique 
in design, or the first of a class of article manufactured or intro- 
duced. 

VALUABLE RELICS. 

Some of the articles in the Department Museum collection are 
the following: 

An old Spanish or French cannon, date unknown, but sup- 
posed to be about the i6th century. 

(29) 



30 Department of Archives and History. 

Old French brick, taken from the powder magazine of old 
Fort Louis de la Mobile, erected in 1702. 

An old cannon, brought by Bienville to Fort Toulouse in 17 14. 

Old flint and steel gun, used in the War of the Revolution. 

Sword, used by members of the Evans family in the War of 
181 2, the Mexican War, and the War between the States. 

Small sword carried by Judge Alexander B. Meek as an en- 
sign in the Creek Indian War, 1836. 

Small pistol of Col. John Crowell, first member of Congress 
from Ala., presented to him by Deringer, the inventor and 
maker. 

Pistol used in the Mexican War by James Cantey, later briga- 
dier-general, C. S. A. 

Walking cane of Gov. Benjamin Fitzpatrick. 

Walking cane of Col. Thomas J. Judge. 

Gold and silver heads of the walking canes of William L. 
"Vancey. 

Dueling pistol of William L. Yancey. 

Small writing case, carried by \\'illiam L. Yancey on his 
European mission in 1861. 

Sword cane, original owner unknown. 

Sword and sash of Samuel Adams, colonel of the 33rd Ala- 
bama regiment, C. S. A. 

Sword of Robert H. Abercrombie, colonel of the 45th 
Alabama regiment, C. S. A. 

Small leather trunk carried through the \^'ar between the 
States by Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. Baine, 14th Alabama reg- 
iment, C. S. A. 

Old cannon, made of hoop-iron prior to 1861. 

Old cannon, made from the axle of a steamboat wheel at 
Columbus, Ga., about 1865. 



(30) 



VII. ALABAMA WAR RECORDS. 



COMPILATION OF ROSTERS. 

The Department is charged by the act of establishment with 
"the duty of making special effort to collect data in reference to 
soldiers of Alabama in the war between the States," and "to 
cause the same to be prepared for publication as speedily as 
possible." It was felt that next to the current business of the 
Department, the compilation, for publication, of the records of 
Alabama troops was of the very first importance. In the per- 
formance of this duty, the Director has labored diligently. 

Fortunately for the more speedy and successful accomplish- 
ment of the ends desired, Congress, on Feb. 25, 1903, enacted : 

"That under the direction of the Secretary of War the Chief 
of the Record and Pension Office shall compile, from such offi- 
cial records as are in the possession of the United States and 
from such other authentic records as may be obtained by loan 
from the various States and other official sources, a complete 
roster of the officers and enlisted men of the Union and Confed- 
erate armies." 

This work when completed will correlate the "Official Rec- 
ords" of the War (documentary material), already issued in one 
hundred and twenty-eight large books. 

Publication having been undertaken by the War Department 
has relieved Alabama of this task, at least for the present. 

Acting with commendable promptness the Secretary of War 
addressed a communication to the governors of the several 
States in which he announced the readiness of his Department 
to proceed at once with the compilation, and inviting the co- 
operation of States, societies and individuals. He also reques- 
ted the designation of some official or Department to have 
charge of the work in each State. In response Hon. William 
D. Jelks, the Governor, promised the full and earnest co-opera- 
tion of Alabama. 

He appropriately committed to the Department of Archives 
and History the task of collecting the data desired in reference 

(31) 



32 Department of Archives and History. 

to Alabama soldiers. The Director has been in communication 
with the Chief of the Record and the Pension Office, and all 
rosters, rolls, data and memoranda in the possession of the 
State will be loaned for the use of the work. 

The correspondence below will serve to further explain the 
proposed compilation : 

Secretary Root to the Governor. 

War Department, 
Washington, March i6, 1903. 

The Governor of the State of Alabama, 
Montgomery. 

Sir : There is a very general desire on the part of the surviv- 
ing participants of the great struggle in which the country was 
engaged from 1861 to 1865, and on the part of the descendants 
of those who have passed away, for a publication that shall be 
accessible to the general public and shall show the names of 
those who, either as officers or enlisted men, bore arms for the 
Union or for the Confederacy during the great war. In the 
opinion that this desire is one that should be gratified, and that 
can be gratified, in great measure at least, by compiling and pub- 
lishing, as a continuation of the publication known as the "Offi- 
cial Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," a complete 
list or roster of the officers and men who served in those armies 
during the civil war, this Department recommended at the last 
session of Congress the enactment of a law authorizing the 
compilation and preparation of such a roster for publication. 
That recommendation was followed by the enactment of a pro- 
vision of law, which is embodied in the Legislative, Executive 
and Judicial Appropriation Act approved February 25, 1903, 
and which is as follows : 

[Here is given the law as set forth above.] 

The Department is prepared to enter at once upon the work of 
making the compilation thus authorized, and to push it to com- 
pletion as rapidly as possible. There will be little or no difficul- 
ty in making the Union part of the roster complete, but there 
will be great difficulty with regard to the Confederate part 
because of the incompleteness of the collection of Confederate 
records in the possession of this Department. It is of the first 
importance, therefore, that no effort shall be spared to seaire 
the temporary loan to the War Department, for the purpose of 

(32) 



Alabama War Records. 33 

copying, of any and all authentic Confederate records that can 
be found anywhere. Many of these records are in the posses- 
sion of the various States and it is hoped will be made readily 
accessible, but there are others that are widely scattered among 
historical memorial associations and private citizens. The prob- 
lem of how to find and procure the loan of these scattered rec- 
ords is a difficult one, but is one that must be solved in order 
that the Confederate soldier shall receive the full credit that is 
due him in the roster that is to be compiled. 

I earnestly invite your co-operation with the Department in 
an effort to make this compilation as nearly complete as it is 
possible to make it, and I shall be glad to have the benefit of 
any suggestions that you can make as to the manner in which 
that end can be best attained. The work will be in the immedi- 
ate charge of Brigadier General F. C. Ainsworth, Chief of the 
Record and Pension Office of this Department, and 1 beg leave 
to suggest that, if the plan herein outlined meets your approval, 
you designate some official of your State to communicate with 
him relative to the details of the work and the steps to be taken 
in the furtherance of it. 

Very respectfully, 

(Signed) Elihu Root, 

Secretary of War. 

General Ainsworth to the DntECXOR. 

Record and Pension Office, 
War Department, 

Washington City, March 30, 1903. 
Hon. Thomas M. Owen, 

Director of the Department of Archives and History, 

Montgomery, Ala. 
Dear Sir : I am gratified to learn, through a letter from 
Governor Jelks to the Secretary of War, dated March 28, 1903, 
that you have been designated to co-operate with the Depart- 
ment in the effort to make the recently authorized roster of 
the ofificers and men of the Union and Confederate Armies 
as nearly complete as it is possible to make it, so far as Ala- 
bama troops are concerned. 

A considerable collection of the rolls of Alabama Confederate 
organizations is now in the possession of this Department. While 

(33) 



34 Department of Archives and History. 

that collection does not by any means show all the names of the 
officers and men who were in the Confederate service from Ala- 
bama, and while it does not show the complete military histories 
of those whose names it does show, it is hoped that the list of 
names and the histories of individual officers and men can be 
m.ade much more nearly complete by record evidence obtainable 
from- other original rolls that may now be in the possession of 
the State of Alabama, or of historical societies, memorial asso- 
ciations and individuals of Alabama and other States. 

The legislation authorizing the compilation of the roster is 
construed by the Department to restrict it, in making the com- 
pilation, to the use of original records made during the war 
period, and to preclude the use of printed or manuscript copies 
or compilations made subsequently. For this reason, and in 
order that there shall be no ground for doubt as to the accura- 
cy of the proposed roster, the Department will be unable to 
use in the compilation any of the rosters that have heretofore 
been published, but must in all cases seek the original records 
upon which those rosters were based. 

You will readily see that, in order that the compilation now in 
progress shall be as nearly complete as it is possible to make it, 
it is essential that the War Department shall obtain the tempor- 
ary loan, for the purpose of copying, of any original official 
rolls, lists or other documents that show the names of Confed- 
erate officers and men and that are now in the custody of State 
officials, historical or memorial associations, public or private 
libraries, or that are in the possession of priv-ate citizens. 

It is impracticable for the War Department to communicate 
v.ith the various holders of these scattered records, and conse- 
qnently the Department must rely upon each State to collect, 
by loan or otherwise, such records of its own or other Confed- 
erate organizations as may be obtainable within the State, and 
to for.\-ai-d the collection when completed to this Department, 
by which the records will be copied and returned to the State 
with the least possible delay. Of course, the express charges 
incident to .shipping records to and from the State will be de- 
frayed b>' the Department. 

Permit me to suggest, if the plan herein outlined meets with 
your apT)rovcii. that you take such steps, through the public 
press and otherwise, as you may deem to be advisable and prop- 
er to give the plan wide publicity, and to enable you to gather 
together all original Confederate records that can be collected 

(34) 



Alabama War Records 35 

in your State by loan or otherwise. 

If it occurs to you that a different plan from that indicated 
herein should be adopted, or if during the progress of the work 
you can make any suggestion tending to facilitate or improve 
it, you will confer a favor upon the Department and myself 
by advising me freely and fully with regard to your views. 

Very respectfully, 
(Signed) F. C. Ainsvvorth, 

Brigadier-General, U. S. A., 
Chief Record and Pension Office. 

NARRATIVE HISTORIES OR HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF ALABAMA 
COMMANDS. 

The proposed compilation of rosters, as will be noted, is 
limited to the personnel, or to the individual records of soldiers, 
compiled from official sources. Historical or descriptive 
sketches will form no part of the work. The wisdom of such 
exclusion is apparent, but the narrative histories of the several 
commands are nevertheless important and demand considera- 
tion. Therefore, the Department has in preparation a series 
of narrative histories or historical sketches of the several or- 
ganizations of troops from Alabama in the War, 1861 to 
1865. The commands to be embraced in the series are regi- 
ments, battalions, batteries, and companies which were never 
parts of larger organizations. 

Alabama nobly responded to every call at all stages of the 
unequal struggle, and her soldiers from Manassas to Appomat- 
tox have left an honorable record of noble endeavor and heroic 
achievement. From 1861 to 1865 there were raised in the 
State and mustered into her own or into the Confederate ser- 
vice, over two hundred regiments, battalions, batteries, and 
separate companies of militia, reserves and home guards. 

Histories of about one-tenth of the commands have been 
secured, and arrangements are being made for the preparation 
of the remainder. 

It is the earnest wish of the Department that all sketches be 
prepared by surviving participants if possible. There are 
many reasons why this is the desirable course. A sketch pre- 
pared by a participant will be more vivid and realistic, the de- 
tails, the individual incidents, and the deeds of personal daring 



(35) 



36 Department of Archives and History. 

will be more surely presented, and the nice adjustment and rela- 
tion of events will be more carefully preserved. 

The sketches are intended to present a full narrative of the 
entire operations of the particular command from organization 
to surrender, and where practicable, in accordance with the 
following outline: (i) Brief account of the movements lead- 
ing to organization ; (2) Brief accounts of the formation of the 
several companies, and of their officers, and the formation of 
the regiment, battalion, or battery; (3) First field and staff, 
with brief sketches; (4) Equipment; incidents of first service, 
and esprit de corps; (5) Brief accounts of the several battles 
in which engaged, sufficient to show generally the part played 
by the particular command therein, with special mention of 
deeds of daring, bravery, losses, etc.; (6) Prison life and inci- 
dents; (7) Recruiting; (8) Camp incidents ; (9) Subsistence; 
(10) Religious tone; (ii) Numbers enlisted and casualties; 
(12) Surrender and return home. No rolls are to be given in 
the narrative. 

Each sketch will be illustrated, as far as possible, by con- 
temporary camp scenes, groups of officers, and pictures of the 
members of field and staff, and some of the line officers. 

The Department has a full collection of all printed material, 
and also all existing manuscript materials in official reposi- 
tories, bearing upon the history of Alabama soldiers. These 
materials are available for the use of all who may wish to assist 
in completing the series, as well as all others who may desire 
to consult them. 

FLAGS. 

Special eft'ort has been put forth to locate and obtain all 
flags, banners, guidons, markers or emblems, carried or used 
by commands from Alabama in the Confederate States Army. 
Placed in the keeping of the Department these interesting relics 
will be sacredly and carefully guarded and preserved, alike to 
the generosity of the donors, and to the glory of the brave 
soldiers of whom they are everlasting memorials. 

Almost every company, battalion, regiment and brigade had 
its flag. As is well known many of these were captured, and 
are now in the War Department at Washington, or in the 
custody of northern States, or of museums, or of historical 

(36) 



Alabama War Records. 87 

societies. Many, however, were saved, and by loving and 
jealous hands have been preserved through the passing years. 
Some have drifted into local collections, or into the keeping of 
camps of Confederate Veterans, or of chapters of the Daugh- 
ters of the Confederacy. 

The number secured so far is not large, but others are prom- 
ised. A catalogue is in preparation showing the location and 
custody of all known to be preserved. 



(37) 



VIII. DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE 

IN REFERENCE TO THE HISTORY 

AND RESOURCES OF THE STATE. 



The diffusion of knowledge in reference to the history and 
resources of the State has proceeded with as much thorough- 
ness as has heen possible with the limited means at command. 

The Department stands ready to respond to every proper call 
for assistance on any and all subjects connected with Alabama 
or its history. This assistance already given has taken a great 
variety of forms, some of which are ( i ) supplying war rec- 
ords. (2) transcribing documents, (3) verification of historical 
references, (4) response to inquiries in reference to books, 
ancestral data, archaeological data, and for pamphlets and 
official documents, (5) consultation by the Daughters of the 
American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confeder- 
acy, and other patriotic societies, etc., etc. 

The history of Alabama is a long record of achievement and 
endeavor ; and its resources are wonderful in richness, variety 
and extent. The attempt has been made to widen the infor- 
mation of the people, not only of Alabama, but of those beyond 
our borders, in respect to these things. Hundreds of official 
and other documents have been distributed, and special assist- 
ance has been given several of the great libraries of the country 
in completing sets of Alabama material. In this way students 
who resort thither will have the opportunity of using Alabama 
experiences and examples in their researches and studies. In 
addition to this, whenever public men or others have been in 
need of Alabama documents, or official or other publications, 
an endeavor has been made to supply them. 

To render the usefulness of the Department greater for the 
future, all Alabama documents, papers, reports, bound books, 
bulletins, and other publications which can be located, are being 
collected and preserved. Too little attention has been paid 
these heretofore, and numbers have been destroyed. The col- 
lections thus made will be invaluable when the people of the 

(38) 



Diffusion of Knowledge. 39 

State are aroused to the important character of such material, 
and attempt to make up complete sets. 

The newspapers of the State have been sympathetic and 
cordial, and several historical contributions, prepared under 
Department direction or suggestion, have appeared in their 
pages. 

Jn order to give greater publicity to the operations of the 
Department, and at the same time to thereby bring public atten- 
tion more directly to its needs and character, a column was 
conducted by the Director in the Sunday issue of the Montgom- 
ery Advertiser, beginning with the number for July 28, 1901. 
At the first of each month classified lists of the donations for 
the preceding month were published. These served as public 
acknowledgement to donors as well as to indicate to others, 
who had gifts, what were desired. The column contained 
notes on Department work and plans, as well as a variety of 
historical papers. It was discontinued with the issue for April 
13, 1902, owing to the number of demands on the time of the 
Director. 



(39) 



IX. ENCOURAGEMEXT OF HISTOR- 
ICAL WORK AND RESEARCH. 



The interpretation of the duty of the Department in refer- 
ence to the encourag-ement of historical work and research has 
l;een broad and liberal. An attempt has been made to arouse 
greater interest in the subject of history itself, by means of 
lectures, press notes, informal conferences and by correspon- 
dence. The value of history in schools has been pointed out 
to teachers and students, and the importance of accurate and 
impartial text-books has been urged. The preparation of 
local, church and family histories, and historical studies in 
special subjects has been encouraged, and every assistance has 
been afforded, not only in suggestions and criticism as to form 
and methods of preparation, but also in supplying materials. 

The Colonial Dames, the Sons of the Revolution, the Daugh- 
ters of the American Revolution, the United Confederate 
Veterans, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the United 
Sons of Confederate Veterans, and all other patriotic organiza- 
tions have been materially aided. The Director is the chair- 
man of the historical committee of the Alabama Division, 
United Sons of Confederate Veterans, an associate member of 
the historical committee, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 
and an adjunct member of the historical committee, United 
Confederate Veterans. He is also the secretary of the Society 
of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of Alabama, and has 
been diligent in his efforts to locate Revolutionary relics, and 
the graves of all soldiers of the Revolution buried in the State. 

Interest in the Alabama Historical Society has been earnest- 
ly fostered, and the Director, who is its secretary, is also the 
editor of its Publications. Much substantial work in local his- 
tory has been accomplished by the Iberville Historical Society, 
Mobile, the Tennessee \'olley Historical Society. Huntsville, 
and the Old St. Stei^hen'^ Historical Society. St. Stephens, in 
all of which the Department has been a valuable coadjutor. 

Students everywhere are invited and urged to use the De- 
partment collections, and every facility is extended in their 
researches. Special invitation has been extended the great 
American Universities to make use of the Department material. 

(40) 



X. SPECIAL ACTIVITIES. 



In meeting; the full measure of its responsibility, the Depart- 
ment has projected plans for the development of sundry special 
activities, not embraced in those heretofore described. These 
may be summarized as the commemoration of historic events 
or anniversaries, the acquisition of historic places or localities, 
the erection of monuments, the marking of historic sites or 
houses, mound exploration, co-operation with societies and 
other institutions engaged in historical, literary, library or kin- 
dred work, and the encouragement of State support in behalf 
of historical enterprise. 

BICENTENARY OF THE FOUNDING AND SETTLEMENT OF MOIilLK, 
JANUARY, 1902. 

At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, Oct. i, 1901, 
a resolution was adopted instructing the Director to aid "in 
all practicable ways the bicentennial celebration of the foimd- 
ing of Mobile by the French in January, 1702." In obedience 
thereto, as soon as the movement was projected by the Iberville 
Historical Society looking to the celebration of this historic 
event, the Director visited Mobile, took part in the meetings, 
served on committees, and otherwise aided in the work as far 
as he could. The celebration took place in Mobile, January 22, 
and at the old site of Fort Louis de la Mobile, January 23, 
1002. The exercises on each day were successful in every 
detail and reflected great credit on the officers and members 
of the Iberville Historical Society, and the citizens of Mobile. 
The leading spirit in the whole movement was the president of 
that Society, Pe:or J. Hamilton, Esq. After tlie celebration 
Mr. Hamilton secured a donation of the land, twenty-five fee* 
sq.iare, surrounding the monument at Twenty-seven Mile 
Bluff, from John M. Ladd. Jr., Ella H. Ladd. Kate H. Ladd, 
and Frank M. Ladd. Under date of May 10, 1902, Mr. Hamil- 
ton transmitted the deed, properly recorded, to his excellency, 
the Governor, who in turn filed it with the Department. 

(41) 



42 Department of Archives and History. 

ACQUISITION OF HISTORIC PLACES OR LOCALITIES. 

It accords with an enhg-htcned and grateful sentiment to res- 
pect the evidences of the former aboriginal occupation of the 
State, and to venerate the scenes of the exploits of her people 
in arms, or the place of occurrence of some historic event, or 
the spot where the great ones of the State first came into ex- 
istence or where they sleep the last sleep. There are many 
places in Alabama which are famous by association with some 
such incident. Lists of these have been made, and if possible 
they are to be obtained, either by donation or purchase. When 
secured it is probable that some of them may be preserved and 
beautified as public parks, while others will be merely marked 
in some permanent manner. 

ERECTION OF MONUMENTS, AND THE MARKING OF HISTORIC 
SITES OR HOUSES. 

There are many points and places of great historic interest 
in the State, not included in the class just named, and which 
should be durably marked in some suitable way, either by a 
memorial stone, mural or other tablet, with appropriate in- 
scriptions. Such monuments or memorials will become "object 
lessons in local history." The actual marking of such points 
or places projierly belongs to local authorities, or societies, or 
public-spirited citizens. The part of the Department therein 
is limited to necessary investigation into the historv of the 
place, or the occasion, or the event to be commemorated or 
marked. 

ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS. 

Archaeological investigation in Alabama has heretofore been 
substantially "limited to ignorant search for treasure or to the 
spasmodic digging of the seeker after relics." In order that 
further work might be conducted under intelligent direction 
and in order to bring into State custody the results of all future 
mound examination, to the Department was appropriatelv com- 
mitted "the direction and control" of "the exploration of pre- 
historic and Indian mounds and other remains existing in the 
State." A systematic plan of exploration has not yet been de- 

(42) 



Special Activities. 43 

veloped. Additions are. however. bein_q' made to the Hsts of 
prehistoric works noted in the Report of the Alabama History 
Commission (1901). pp. 358-366, and preliminary inquiries 
are being- made looking to future field work. Only the most 
thorough and scientific investigations will be conducted. 

REPORT OF THE ALABAMA HISTORY COMMISSION. 

In 1901 Vol. I of the Report of the Alabama History Com- 
mission was presented to the Legislature and published in an 
octavo volume of 447 pages. All of the investigations of the 
Commission were not included in this volume, and a second 
was authorized, as follows, viz : 

"He shall prepare for the press, contract for and supervise 
the publication of volume two of the Report of the Alabama 
History Commission, the said volume to be similar to volume 
one of said Report as to printing, paper and binding, and to be 
paid for out of the public printing fund to be available after 
October i, 1901. 

This additional volume is to contain the results of the 
investigations of the Commission into the character and extent 
of the county records of the State. It has not yet been pub- 
lished, owing to the necessity of more extended investigations 
into the records of the counties. 

CO-OPERATION WITH SOCIETIES OR INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED IN 

HISTORICAL, LITERARY, LIBRARY, ARCHAEOLOGICAL 

AND KINDRED W'ORK. 

The activities of the Department have not been limited to 
local effort. Through the membership of its Director in his- 
torical, literary, library, archaeological and other societies, co- 
operation has been extended in the accomplishment of their 
aims and objects. While attending their meetings and partic- 
ipating in their proceedings and discussions the Director has 
not only been able to give help to others, he has also received 
valuable hints and suggestions wdiich have been utilized in his 
Department work. It is felt that Alabama should be a real part 
in shaping the larger aft'airs of the day. Some of these soci- 
eties are the American Historical Association, the American 
Library Association, the National Geographic Society, the 
United Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Sons of the 
Revolution. 

(43) 



44 Department of Archives and History. 

STATE SUPPORT FOR HISTORICAL WORK. 

In the renaissance of interest in history and historical work 
and enterprise in the South, the Department has done what it 
could to increase that interest and to give it proper shape and 
direction. It is but natural that it should urge the establish- 
ment of similar departments in other States. Hundreds of 
copies of the act of establishment have been distributed, and 
sympathetic response has been made to numerous inquiries 
concerning its plan of administration. 

It is gratifying to reflect that Mississippi, just one year 
later, followed the lead of Alabama by the passage of an act, 
practically similar in all respects to the Alabama law. The plan 
has been endorsed by the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, 
and by various patriotic organizations, newspapers and educa- 
tors in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, 
Tennessee and Virginia. Several of these have taken steps 
which will ultimately result in the establishment of departments 
for their States. 



(44) 



XI. THE DEPARTMENT WORK AS 
VIEWED BY HISTORIANS, STU- 
DENTS AND OTHERS. 



Although of recent establishment, the Department has at- 
tracted very general notice from historians, students and 
others interested in the class of work which it has undertaken. 
Its plan of administration instantly commanded the attention 
of thoughtful observers. The collections which have been 
brought together have elicited admiration and commendation. 
Some of the complimentary views recently received will be 
read with interest, pride and encouragement by all Alabamians. 

commendatory notices. 

Dr. Charles H. Haskins, professor of history. Harvard 
University, and corresponding secretary of the Amj.ri- 
can Historical Association, Cambridge, Mass. : 

The showing of Alabama in such matters ought to stimu- 
late all other States, north as well as south. 

Dr. Wm. a. Dunning, professor of history and political 
SCIENCE, Columbia University, N. Y. : 

It has been the greatest possible pleasure to me to come per- 
sonally into contact with you and your associates in the way 
of Southern historical development. 

Dr. George B. Adams, professor, Yale University, New 
Haven, Conn. : 

Thank you for the papers about the Alabama Department 
of Archives and History. I want to add my written congratu- 
lations to the oral ones that I made you lately on the good work 
that you are doing for the future in your State. I wish these 
interests in every State were as well organized and in as good 
hands. 

Mr. William Beer, librarian, Howard Memorial Libra- 
ry, New Orleans, La., in the Montgomery Advertiser, 
July 27, 1904: 

The Archives of Alabama are in charge of Thomas M. 
Owen, who must have been specially created for the work, 
which he does so well. In the short time since the creation of his 
office, he has filled to overflowing not only those places allotted 

(45) 



46 Department of Archives and History. 

for the purpose, but so much else that the Senate of Alabama 
will find some difiiculty in locating themselves at the next 
session. 

Commenting on the foregoing, the Montgomery Times, 
July 27, 1904, stated: 

It requires testimony like this, and from such a source to 
bring home to the people of Alabama the collected legacies 
gathered within the inadequate space set apart in the capitol 
for the preservation of our claims to history. 
The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, 1903: 

Mr. Owen has been a revelation to the people of the State 
in his aptitude for historical work, and the preserving of 
records, and he has made himself almost unaided the wonderful 
and valuable Department over which he now presides. What is 
of the Department is of him and I offer no apology for saying 
a word of the Department of Archives and History. 

Clarke County Democrat, Grove Hill, Sept. i, 1904: 

Director Owen of the Department of Archives and History 
is eminently the right man for the place. We doubt if Alabama 
has a more suitable man, or one as suitable for the position. 
Hon. John T. Morgan, U. S. senator from Alabama; 

Your book on the Statistics of Alabama is greatly apprecia- 
ted as a most useful and creditable work. I thank you for the 
copy sent me. Your historical work will be worth more to 
Alabama than many more pretentious efforts of politicians. 
The State is just beginning to realize its strength and should 
move up to the front line of progress, where it so properlv 
belongs. 

Gen. George P. Harrison, commander Alaijam.v Divis- 
ion, United Confederate Veterans. Opelika. Ala. : 

I beg to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 3rd inst., to- 
gether with printed circulars therein contained, for which I 
beg to thank you and to express my appreciation of the care 
with which you are looking after the historical interests of 
Alabama, and especially your zealous effort to collect histori- 
cal material concerning Alabama soldiers. 

Dr. George F. Mellen, member House of Representa- 
tives OF Tenn.. Knoxville: 

I am exceedingly desirous of securing, for the better pres- 
ervation of our State history, a department of archives similar 
in organization and efficiency to that of Alabama. I should be 
grateful to you for a copy of your State law and such other 
information as will aid in securing such legislation. 

(46) 



The Department Work. 47 

Col. Fred L. Robertson, adjutant-general, Florida Di- 
vision, United Confederate Veterans, Tallahassee: 

The Florida Division, U. C. V., at its annual encampment 
at Ocala adopted resohitions asking- the State to establish a 
Department of Archives and History similar to that of Ala- 
bama and I was directed to memorialize the Legislature to that 
effect. If you can give me any pointers that will help to 
forcibly impress the importance of this department on our 
solons I will greatly appreciate any suggestions that will help 
us to success. 

Worthington C. Ford, chief of Division of Manu- 
scripts, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. : 

I have watched with a good deal of interest the growth of 
your Department of Archives and History, and can bear testi- 
mony to the progress you have made and the increasing value 
and interest of your collections. We act as trustees for the 
future, of this material, and no one can appreciate more than 
myself the advantages that will be offered to the students who 
come after us, in having these manuscripts open to study and 
use. Let the good work go on and above all issue lists of what 
you have in order that we may measure the resources already 
accessible. 

Dr. Reuben G. Thwaites. secretary State Historical 
Society of Wisconsin, Madison : 

I have watched with great interest the establishment and 
growth of the Department of Archives and History in the 
State of Alabama. You certainly have done a great work there 
in a very short time, and the Department has already won a 
national reputation for the excellence and character of its ser- 
vice to the cause of history in the South. I hope that the peo- 
ple of Alabama appreciate the services which you have rendered 
to Alabama history as fully and as cordially as do historical 
students in other parts of the Union. It is a splendid work, 
and 1 tir.st may never lack the entire sympathy and the active 
encouragement of the people of your State. You have our 
most abundant congratulations and good wishes in the efforts 
which you are making towards the still further development of 
your admirably organized and splendidly conducted Depart- 
ment. 

Dr. J. Franklin Jameson, professor of history in the 
L^NiVERSiTY of Chicago : 

I am much obliged by your kindness in sending me the re- 
cent circulars of your Department. Its plans of organization 

(47) 



48 Department of Archives and History. 

and operations are very interesting, and I should think would 
in your hands prove eminently successful. I cannot express 
too strongly my sense of the value to every State of such 
endeavors to collect, classify and arrange historical material 
and make it accessible and useful to the citizens. It has been 
demonstrated again and again that a high degree of public 
spirit, w^ith all the great benefits that may flow from it, is in 
no way so well created in any nation, state or community, as 
by earnest and intelligent devotion to the records of its past. 
The new Italian kingdom and the new German Empire owe 
an incalculable debt to those who, early in the nineteenth cen- 
tury, organized systematic documentary work upon German 
and Italian history in those countries respectively ; and I feel 
sure that the good work you are doing will increase in Alabama 
the most laudable kind of State pride and foster public spirit. 

Gen. Stephen D. Lee, commander-in-chief. United 
Confederate Veterans, Columbus, Miss. : 

As a surviving Confederate soldier, and loyal Southerner, 
interested in, and desiring that the States of the late Confed- 
eracy, should have a careful and detailed renaissance of their 
history (Colonial and State), to the date of the great War 
between the States; and a careful record of their life, acts, 
purity of motive and patriotism, and deeds of valor, sacrifice, 
fortitude and sufferings, in that great historic period of our 
country's history ; and feeling that this work so important for 
future generations has been neglected, and perverted more or 
less by unfriendly critics ; I congratulate you in so actively and 
earnestly leading off. under the wise legislation of your State, 
in the organization, development and comprehensive accom- 
plishment' of the aims, purposes, and successful development 
of the Department of Archives and History of the State of 
Alabama. The State of Mississippi has followed in your steps 
and other States are also acting in this important work. 

I have watched the progress of your work and feel greatly 
encouraged in the behef, that your State, and others who will 
follow her example, will soon rescue from oblivion, and put in 
well arranged order the important records heretofore neglect- 
ed, and arrange them in intelligent order for future reference 
and history. May you continue in your important work, and 
I trust Alabama will be wise in supporting your important 
duties. 

(48) 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. OWEN, Director 

BULLETIN NO, 2 

HISTOEY 

OF THE 

First Kegimbnt 

Alabama Volunteer Infantry 
c. s. A. 

BY 

EDWARD YOUNG McMORRlES, Ph. D. 

A Private of the Perote Guards, Co. C, 1861, Co. G., 

1862-1865; and an Original Member of both 

the Company and Regiment. 



.MUNTHOMEKY, ALA.: 

THE BROWN PfilNTINO CO.. PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 

1904. 



!» 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. OWEN, Director 

BULLETIN NO. 2 



HISTOKT 

OF THE 

First Regiment 

Alabama Volunteer Infantry 

C. S. A. 



BY 

EDWARD YOUNG McMORRIES, Ph. D. 

A Private of the Perote Guards, Co. C, 1861, Co. G., 

1862-1865; and an Original Member of both 

the Company and Regiment. 



MONTGOMERY, ALA.: 

THE BUOWN PRINTING CO.. PRINTERS AND DINDCRS. 

1904. 



.^\3 



COPYRIGHT. 1902, 

COPYRIGHT, 1904, 

By E. Y. McMORRIES. 



JUN 20 iyo6 
D.otO, 



The Department assumes no responsibility for 
the author's statements or opinions. 



TO THE 

SOLDIERS, THE SAILORS AND THE WOMEN 

OF THE 

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, 

AND TO 

THEIR DESCENDANTS FOREVER, 

THIS LITTLE VOLUME 

IS RESPECTFULLY 

DEDICATED 



PREFATORY NOTE. 

The Histor>' of the First Regiment, Alabama Volunteer In- 
fantry, Confederate States Army, contained in this volume, was 
prepared by the author in response to the request of the Alabama 
Department of Archives and History, for a series of Narrative 
Histories or Historical Sketches of Alabama Commands in the 
War between the States, 1 861-1865. This series was early pro- 
jected as one of the activities of the Department, and every effort 
has been made to secure the compilation of accurate and authen- 
tic historical sketches of the several commands — regiments, bat- 
talions and batteries — which are entitled to representation. 

In order to stimulate the early completion of the series and to 
afford a suitable model for further work, this sketch is issued 
in the present form. It presents in a clear and sympathetic way 
the story of the regiment, its organization, sketches of its offi- 
cers, its engagements, prison life, and hardships, with numerous 
incidents of thrilling interest. Prof. E. Y. McMorries, the 
author, has performed a difficult task with delicacy and an earn- 
est desire for the truth. It has been to him a labor of love, the 
entire work being done without compensation. He has a reward, 
however, in that he will receive the grateful plaudits of all sur- 
vivors of this gallant command, and of the families of those who 
have passed away. He has coupled his name with the history of 
the regiment in an imperishable way as its annalist and histo- 
rian. 

Thomas McAdory Owen, Director. 
Department of Archives and History of the State of Alabama. 

Montgomery, August 2, 1904. 



(53) 



CONTENTS. 

Title I 

Dedication 3 

Prefatory Note 5 

Contents 7 

Introduction 9 

Chapter I. Plenssacola Campaign, 1861 13 

Chapter II. Island Number Ten Campaign, and Prison 

Life, 1862 34 

Chapter III. Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-1863 48 

Chapter IV. Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns, 

1863-1864 71 

C hapter V. The Tennessee Campaign, 1864 82 

Chapter VI. Campaign in the Carolinas, 1864-1865 93 

Chapter VII. Reminiscences and Incidents 95 

Chapter VIII. Dead of the First Alabama Regiment at 
Madison, Wis. ; and Mrs. Alice Whiting 
Waterman 120 

Chapter IX. Official Report of Col. (Surgeon) I. G. W. 
Steedman; and his Reminiscences of 
Prison Life 129 

Index 137 



(55) 



INTRODUCTION. 



It is well known that for twenty years I have resisted urgent 
appeals of surviving comrades to write a history of the First 
Alabama Regiment. Even now I yield my consent to undertake 
this sketch only after fully realizing that unless I write it, the 
regiment will be left without any record, and that it will be bet- 
ter for the regiment to have a poorly written record than none 
whatever. I am fully aware of my incompetence to do the sub- 
ject justice; and the insistence of Col. I. G. W. Steedman, the 
distinguished commander of the regiment during the war, and 
of Thomas M. Owen, the able and active Director of the Depart- 
ment of Archives and History, are to a large degree responsible 
for the final appearance of the work. 

The following personal allusions are necessary in order to 
gratify the natural desire of readers to know the opjx)rtunities 
I have had by experience and observation for ascertaining the 
facts and incidents here recorded. I was an original member of 
the "Perote Guards," organized at Perote, Bullock (then Pike) 
county, in 1859, and composed mostly oi students of the Perote 
Institute and of young business men of the town ; left Perote 
with the company Feb. 12, 1861, and the next day was mustered 
into the service of Alabama at Girard by a Captain Thom ; was 
organized with the company into the First Regiment Alabama 
Volunteers at Barrancas, Fla., about a month later, which regi- 
ment, by consent of men and officers, was transferred to the Con- 
federate service about April i, 1861 ; remained with the regiment 
until its surrender with the Army of Tennessee, April 27, 1865, 
at Greensboro, N. C. ; participated in every battle and campaign 
of the regimetit except the march from Lovejoy Station, Ga., to 
Tuscumbia, Ala., in the fall of 1864 ; and shared the fate of the 
regiment in military prison in 1862 at Camp Butler, near Spring- 
field. 111. 

With Vergil. I feel that I can justly say: 

"Quaeque ipse miserrima vidi 
Et quorum pars magna fui." 
(57) 



10 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

AUTHORITIES AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION. 

The principal printed authorities and other sources of infor- 
mation for this Sketch are : ( i ) Accounts of battles and cam- 
paigns published during and subsequent to the war by the pres- 
ent writer in the Southern Advertiser, Troy, Ala., the Herald 
and Times, Union Springs, Ala., and the Adz'ocate, Greenville, 
Ala.; (2) Authentic clippings from newspaper and periodical 
press; (3) Unpublished manuscript notes by the present writer, 
made contemporary with the occurrences ; (4) Confederate Mili- 
tary History (1899) in 12 vols., edited by Gen. Clement A. 
Evans; (5) Southern Historical Society Papers, in several vol- 
umes; (6) Willis Brewer's Alabama: Her History, Resources, 
War Record, and Public Men (1872) ; and (7) Company K, 
First Alabama Regiment, or Three Years in the Confederate 
Service, by Lieut. Daniel P. Smith (1885 • ^^ ^no. pp. 146.) In 
the compilation I have had the use of data and material, printed 
and reminiscent, collected by Col. Steedman and other surviv- 
ors of the command. 

Over all a memory, perhaps unfortunate in never forgetting, 
has exercised a rigid yet conservative censorship. 

RECORDS OF THE REGIMENT. 

After a strenuous effort for several months it has been possi- 
ble to secure from other than official sources, muster-rolls of 
only four of the thirteen companies of the regiment, besides that 
preserved in Smith's History of Company K. The following are 
the companies whose muster-rolls have recently (1902) been 
compiled, with the names of the survivors performing this all- 
important work : Perote Guards, Company G, Private D. S. 
Bethune, Sergeants Hector McLean, Dan McLean, Thomas B. 
Miles; Talladega Rifles, Company D, Lieut. D. Z. Goodlet, and 
S. R. Wheeler; Tallapoosa Rifles. Company A. Lieuts. John H. 
Sanford, O. W. Lockett, Sergeant James H. Lowry ; Rough and 
Ready Pioneers, Company E, Lieut. F. P. Bledsoe. The rolls 
have been placed with the Alabama Department of Archives 
and Histor\' to supplemient the original records on file there. 



(5S) 



Introduction. 11 

SCOPE OF THE WORK. 

Within the limits of this sketch neither individual records nor 
company history can have any place except in so far as they 
may form an essential part of regimental histor)'. The heroic 
deeds of every member of the regiment would be of inestimable 
value, if possible to obtain ; but it would require a volume many 
times greater than this to contain them. Therefore, the author, 
from a desire to be just to all, feels it his duty to omit special 
mention of any. 

REUNION OF THE REGIMENT IN 1898. 

Although not strictly pertinent, I deem it proper to present 
here a brief account of the reunion of the regiment in 1^98. 

About twent}^ survivors met with Col. I. G. W. Steedman in 
the dining hall of the hotel at Shelby Springs, Ala., July 9, 1898, 
and organized under the title of "First Regiment, Alabama Vol- 
unteers, C. S. A." Col. I. G. W. Steedman was chosen Presi- 
dent ; E. Y. McMorries, Vice-President ; J . M. Thornton, Sec- 
retary ; and Samuel R. Wheeler, Treasurer. 

To those who' attended, it was truly "a feast of reason and 
flow of soul," thus to mingle with our immediate comrades of 
the mighty past, recount the scenes of our sufferings, achieve- 
ments, and disappointments, and enjoy the presence of our hon- 
ored and distinguished commander. It was a memorable occas- 
ion in the history of the regiment. We all marked that in Col. 
Steedman the asperity of the military man had disappeared, and 
that, in its stead, a high and noble nature had been mellowed by 
age into one of decided sociability and strongest sympathy. A 
comrade remarked: "In the army I always greatly admired 
Col. Steedman as an officer, but now I love him." Those who 
did not attend this reunion can form no conception of Col. Steed- 
man's intense fondness for the members of his old regiment. The 
night we organized he read to us, while tears chased each other 
rapidly down his cheeks, accounts of our dead buried in the Con- 
federate cemetery at Madison, Wis., and other Northern prisons. 
He greatly appreciated the coming of comrades to meet him, 
and especially of the comrade who had come thirty miles from 
Tallapoosa county in a w^agon with his family. To him he gave 
an engraved portrait of himself on parting. 

(59) 



12 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

On this occasion the preparation of a history of the regiment 
was discussed, and the writer was importuned to undertake the 
task. The assurances of help and assistance then given have 
done much to nerve him to the task. 

UNDORSEMKNT BY COL. STEEDMAN; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

After the labor and pains expended in the preparation, it is 
gratifying to quote the following commendatory words from 
Col. Steedman : 

"I have carefully reviewed the manuscript of this historical 
sketch of the First Regiment Alabama Volunteers, C. S. A., as writ- 
ten by Prof. E. Y. McMorries, of Plantersville, Ala. The history of 
the campaigns in which I was personally engaged is correct in the 
general facts as well as in details. Our survivors and friends owe a 
debt of gratitude and thanks to Pror. McMorries for thus recording 
the history of our regiment, nearly forty years after the actual oc- 
currences. The illustrations, except the photographs accompanying 
the text, are printed from original drawings in my possession. These 
drawings were made upon the spot by actual participants. They 
are not artistic and finished, but are valuable additions to the history 
01 this heroic command." 

After I had completed the sketch, it was printed in the Mont- 
gomery Advertiser, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 2^, and 30, 1902. Its 
prblication called forth several commendatory expressions from 
many sources. My attention was also directed to some minor 
errors. For all these expressions I am profoundly grateful. 

The writer is under lasting obligations to Dr. Thomas M. 
Owen, for his hearty cooperation, for general editorial revision, 
proof-reading, and the supervision incident to publication ; to 
Prof. Henr}^ S. Halbert for a careful reading of the manuscript, 
and assistance in proof-reading; and to Col. I. G. W. Steedman 
of St. Louis, Mo., for numerous letters of sympathy and encour- 
agement, for the loan of several volumes of Confederate Military 
History, maps, plans of battle, etc., for furnishing at his own ex- 
pense all illustrative cuts, for the deep and unremitting interest 
he has taken in the sketch, and for his invaluable criticisms of 
the maimscript. 

E. Y. McMorries, Regimental Historian, 

Plantersville, Alabama. Co. G, Perete Guards. 

(60) 



CHAPTER I. 



PENSACOLA CAMPAIGN, 1861. 



THE REGIMENT ORGANIZED. 

This sketch begins with the organization of the First Regi- 
ment Alabama Vokmteers at Barrancas Barracks, near Fort 
Barrancas, Fla., February, 1861. 

The companies composing the regiment were : the Eufaula 
Pioneers, Capt. John Clark ; the Eufaula Rifles, Capt. 
Alpheus Baker; Perote Guards, Capt. George W. Daw- 
son,; Wilcox True Blues, Capt. I. G. W. Steedman; 
the Alabama Rifles, Talladega, Capt. J. H. Johnson ; Clayton 
Guards, Capt. Jere N. Williams ; Guards of the Sunny South, 
Capt. Y. D. Conyers; Tallapoosa Rifles, Capt. J. D. Meadows; 
Rough and Ready Pioneers, Capt. A. H. Owens ; Red Eagles, 
Capt. Ben Lane Posey. 

These companies had been previously mustered into the 
service of Alabama for twelve months, before leaving their 
State, but a few weeks later were transferred to the Confeder- 
ate service, becoming the first regiment, not only from Ala- 
bama, but from any other State of the Confederacy. 

The following officers were elected : Henry D. Clayton, Col- 
onel ; I. G. W. Steedman, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Jere N. Wil- 
liams, Major. 

The stafif were: S. H. Dent, Adjt. ; Henry R. Shorter, Com- 
missary; L. F. Johnson, Quartermaster; J. D. Caldwell, Sur- 
geon; Walter Curry, Assistant Surgeon. 

Lieut. Ramsey became captain of the Wilcox True Blues, 
and Lieut. Maybur>' captain of the Clayton Guards. 

Braxton Bragg was major-general commanding the troops; 
Gens. A. H. Gladden and R. H. Anderson commanded their re- 
spective brigades. 

(61) 



14 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

THE PENSACOLA CAMPAIGN'. 

The scene of the regiment's service the first year of the war 
was the vicinity of the' lower portions of Pensacola bay, betAveen 
the navy yard and the mouth of the bay, about five miles dist- 
ant. 

Of the physical features, forts, etc., of the locality, I may 
speak briefly. 

Pensacola bay, receiving the waters of the beautiful Escam- 
bia river flowing almost due south, is formed by the interposi- 
tion of Santa Rosa island lying due east and west, and, there- 
fore, at right angles to the course of the river as it approaches 
the gulf; and deflected westward past the city of Pensacola and 
the navy yard, curves gracefully southward from this latter 
point into the gulf between the western extremity of the island 
and a projecting spur of the main land about thirty-five miles 
below the mouth of the river. Fort Pickens, by far the most 
formidable fortification in this vicinity both in structure and 
armament, stands upon this extremity of the island, and Fort 
McRee is due west just across the bay about one and one-half 
miles distant, the twoi forts forming the outpost defenses of the 
harbor. 

On the north side of the harbor or mainland from the navy 
yard to Fort McRee, are successively Warrenton, Marine Hos- 
pital, Barrancas Barracks, Fort Barrancas, Fort Redoubt, Old 
Light House and New Light House. These points occupy ele- 
vations from ten to thirty feet above tide water. Fort Barrancas 
and Old Light House being the highest, while Forts Pickens 
and McRee rise from the white sandy beach, down 
close to the water's edge. Fort Redoubt, designed as a place 
of retreat and continued resistance in case of Fort Barrancas 
falling into the hands of the enemy, is half a mile inland, and 
directly in rear of the latter with which it is connected by an 
underground passageway. It was used by the Confederates 
as an arsenal. 

Santa Rosa island, a few feet above sea-level, from a quarter 
to half a mile wide, interspersed with clumps of gall-berr}- 
slashes, great banks of white sand and sea-drift, with here and 
there an old scalv, gnarly sea-coast pine, with not even a fisher- 
man's hut or other sign of human habitation save the grim, 
gloomy old castle of Fort Pickens, stretches away to the east 
many miles beyond the horizon. 

(62) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 15 

Previous to the arrival of the companies of the regiment, 
Lieut. A. J. Slemmer, commanding United States forces, had 
surrendered all the forts and public buildings on the mainland 
to Alabama and Florida volunteers ; and, with a small squad 
of regulars, had retired to Fort Pickens. Thus the stars and 
stripes were flying from the battlemeuts of the latter, while 
the lone star of State sovereignty, soon to be supplanted 
by the stars and bars of the Confederate States, floated from 
all the forts and public buildings of the fonner. 

The personnel of the regiment was remarkable for the 
youthfulness of its members, and for notable men as privates in 
its ranks. Of the former, perhaps not more than 25 per cent, 
had reached their majority, while not 10 per cent, had passed 
twenty-five. The prevailing ages were from 18 to 21 in ranks, 
with quite a number from 15 to 18. The average age among 
officers could not have exceeded 30. Lieut.-Col. Steedman 
was only 26. Most of these young men were from homes of 
wealth and culture, of the best Southern families, and, in- 
flamed with resentment against the North for long-continued 
aggressions upon the rights of the South, as well as by the 
recent John Brown raid in Virginia, had quitted these sur- 
roundings of luxury, and, in many instances, classic halls of 
learning, and had seized their muskets and gone to battle. Nor 
less conspicuous and heroic were the conduct and spirit of the 
"wool hat boys" who, with no property interests involved, 
equalled the zeal and loyalty of tlieir wealthy comrades in de- 
votion, courage, sacrifice and duty. Neither space nor ability 
permit me to pursue further this tempting line of thought. 
Crown him historian laureate, the genius of whose pen shall 
adequately portray and reflect to future generations the war 
spirit of the South in 1861 ! All thinking classes in the South 
knew that the "irrepressible conflict" had come and must be 
met. 

Of notable men as privates in our ranks were Edward C. 
Bullock, a disthiguished barrister; Judge John Cochran, an 
eminent jurist; and James L. Pugh, whjo upon the secession of 
Alabama a few weeks before, had resigned his seat in the Fed- 
eral house of representatives. These inien, in blouse, army 
shirts, trudging along at drill through the deep sand beneath a 
burning sun, or pacing their beats, or pushing a wheelbarrow 
of sand to construct a battery, were familiar sights to us all 

(63) 



J 6 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

(luring our twelve months' service at Barrancas. They were 
dubbed "high privates." The following year private Bullock 
raised and led to the front the i8th Alabama regiment, but he 
shortly after died ; private Cochran resumed the practice of 
law ; private Pugh was elected to the Confederate States Con- 
gress, where he remained to the end of the war, and since the 
war he has served three tenns in the United States Senate. 
He now (1904) resides in Washington, D. C. 

By such illustrious examples as the above, of which no peo- 
ple ever furnished so many notable instances as the Southern 
States at the beginning of the war, the position and service of 
the Confederate soldier in ranks had been emphasized and 
dignified ; and this fact may be put down as the most powerful 
factor in the evolution of that sublime courage and irresistible 
prowess of the Southern soldier. There was no office-seeking, 
it being considered as high an honor to be a private as to be an 
officer. Men were elected to positions for their fitness to com- 
mand, and not on account of culture, wealth, or family pres- 
tige. Of course, men of superior advantages in all these re- 
spects were elected tO' office, but as a rule each was elected on 
his own individual merits. Nothing more plainly exemplifies 
the big-heart edness of the Southern aristocrat than this eleva- 
tion of so many of his inferiors socially, and his steadfast loy- 
alty to, and support of these officers from start to finish. Never 
before was an army organized on such broad basis of liberality, 
and never was there an army before commanded by such an 
able corps of officers. Mutual respect and confidence was the 
natural result. 

Until about the ist of April our regiment was quartered at 
Barrancas Barracks and Fort Barrancas. Many messes had 
negro cooks, and men hired to do all their laundry and other 
drudgery. All wore neat clothes, drew as daily rations a pound 
each of beef and baker's bread, occasionally supplemented with 
boxes of provisions from home. 

Most of the companies of the regiment had been organized 
several years before the war, and had been under the command 
of efficient officers and had, therefore, reached Barrancas quite 
proficient in company drill, but they had no experience in bat- 
talion drill. We now entered the full routine of soldier duty : 
company drill in the morning, battalion drill in the afternoon, 
guard and police duty, and all other duties. Military regula- 

(64) 



Pensacola Campaign. 1861. 17 

tions began to he enforced and penalties to be inflicted for vio- 
lation. A cordon of guards was kept around the encampment 
and along the beach ; no ingress or egress was permitted 
without a pass ; no intoxicants were allowed within the lines. 
Whether rising or retiring or whatever else, everything must 
obey the taps of the drum. Guards were constantly bringing 
in one or more prisoners and dumping them in the guard 
house amid frantic execrations of the prisoner that he had 
come to war to fight for his rights, that he had lost all his rights 
bv the tyranny of his officers, and that he wouldn't stand it. 
Raw troops and their officers both have a hard time until the 
former learn that a soldier's first and highest duty is to obey 
orders, and the latter how to command. 

COL. HENRY D. CLAYTON. 

Col. Clayton drilled the regiment the first two months, but 
having been assigned to court-martial duty practically left the 
drilling of the regiment to Col. Steedman for the rest of the 
year. Col. Clayton was a fine officer, afterwards becoming one 
of the ablest major-generals in the Confederate service. But 
both by native endowments and education he was a lawyer, 
politician, and man of letters ; serving many years after the 
war as a distinguished circuit judge, losing in the Democratic 
State convention the nomination for Governor of Alabama by 
only a few votes. He was president of the Alabama State 
University when he died. In private as well as in public life, 
he was a man of most exemplary purity of character, and 
greatly loved by all the people of the State. His son, Henry D. 
Clayton, Jr., has ably represented (1904) the third congres- 
sional district of Alabama in Congress, and another son, Bert- 
ram Clayton, represented!, for several terms, a New York con- 
gressional district. 

COL. I. G. W. STEEDMAN. 

Col. I. G. W. Steedman combined all the inborn elements 
of a military man with a thorough military education, having 
graduated from the South Carolina Military Academy in 1856. 
Since it was he who, in 1861, made the First Alabama regiment 
one of the very best drilled in the Confederate army, thus lay- 
ing the foundation for its subsequent distingiiished career, I 

(65) 



18 First Alabama Reg-iment, C. S. A. 

may be permitted to speak briefly at this point of his family, 
service, and characteristics. He was born in Lexington dis- 
trict, S. C, in 1S35, where three generations of his family had 
lived before him. His great-grandfather, John Steedman, 
from the north of Ireland, settled in Lexington many years be- 
fore the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, George Steed- 
man, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, as were also his 
maternal ancestors. His father, Reuben Steedman, served the 
last six months of the Civil War in the militia of Soutih Caro- 
lina under the official call for the enlistinent of all men under 
fifty-five years of age. Four other sons of Reuben Steedman be- 
sides the colonel, were in the Confederate service. 

Immediately after graduating from the military academy, 
Col. Steedman began the study of medicine, attending the 
South Carolina Medical College one term ; then coming to Ala- 
bama he continued liis professional studies under the preceptor- 
ship of his uncle, Dr. D. J. Fox, in Wilcox county, and finally 
receiving his diploma from the Medical Department of the 
University of Louisiana in 1859. He was engaged in the prac- 
tice of medicine v/ith Dr. Fox when Alabama seceded. Prompt- 
ly volunteering, he was mustered into the service of Alabama as 
captain of the Wilcox True Blues in February, 1861, and 
ordered with his company to Fort Barrancas, near Pensacola, 
Fla. Within a month the company became Co. A, First Regi- 
ment Alabama Volunteers ; and, as stated, he was elected lieu- 
tenant-colonel of the regiment. At the reorganization of the 
regiment in February, 1862, he was unanimously elected col- 
onel, and held this rank and position to the close of the war, 
though during a large portion of the tim.e he was a prisoner-cf- 
war. 

His first experience undier fire was the bombardment of Fort 
Pickens, Nov. 22 and 23, 1861. In March, 1862, he was 
ordered with his regiment to Island No. 10. Mississippi river, 
and was put in command of the heavy batteries on the east bank 
of the river. There he exhibited in a high degree all the quali- 
ties of an able commander, and under most trying and disad- 
vajitageous circumstances until compelled to surrender after 
a siege of four weeks by Federal gunboats and infantry. Suf- 
fering at the time of the surrender with pneumonia, he was sent 
as a prisoner first to St. Louis, where he was held six weeks ; 
thence to Columbus, C)., where he was paroled for a month 

(66) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 19 

within the city limits ; thence to Johnson's Island, where he was 
detained until exchanged at \'icksburg the following Septem- 
ber. Rejoining his regiment at the latter place, they were 
sent a few days later to Port Hudson, La., where he was put 
in charge of a line of heavy batteries. He was in command 
of this line on the night of March 14, 1863. During the siege 
of Port Hudson, which began May 25 following, he was act- 
ing brigadier-general in command of the left wing of the land 
defenses, as well as the river defenses ; and it was during this 
terrible siege of seven weeks that his superb endurance and 
military genius and courage shone forth with great resplend- 
ence. 

After the surrender of Port Hudson July 8, four days later 
than that of Vicksburg on July 4, Col. Steedman and the rest 
of our officers were sent to New Orleans, thence to Governor's 
Island, N. Y., by sea, and thence to Johnson's Island, where 
he was held until the spring of 1865. While here he was, at 
the request of his fellow prisoners, put in charge of the prison 
hospital, selecting his own assistants, five in number, who were 
also fellow prisoners. 

After being sent east for exchange he sailed from Fort Mc- 
Henry, Baltimore, for City Point, and on the voyage rendered 
valuable service to the sick suffering from smallpox and gan- 
grtne. Before reaching its destination the vessel returned to 
the military prison at Point Lookout, and Col. Steedman was 
held here until sent to Fort Delaware, where he was paroled 
at the close of the war. Returning to Alabama he located in 
Montgomery for the practice of bis profession. On Oct. 31, 
1865, he was married at St. Louis, Mo., to Dora Harrison, a 
native of that city, and locating in St. Louis he began the prac- 
tice of his profession there in 1866. In his profession he was 
eminently successful, until he retired in 1880. He still (1904) 
resides in that city, in excellent health. He has three sons: 
James Harrison, George Fox, and Edwin H. Steedman, all Uni- 
versity graduates, and successful manufacturers, being associ- 
ated with their father. 

The following were some of the prominent characteristics 
of Col. Steedman, as he was in 1861-1865, and will be readily 
recognized by every member of the regiment : Five feet eight 
or nine inches high, weight about one hundred and fortv pounds, 
dark grey eyes, dark brown hair, and heavy goatee and mus- 

(67) 



20 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

tache of same color; perfectly symmetrical; graceful carriage, 
quick in movement, perception, decision, and expression ; a 
clear, ringing voice ; untiring energy ; a mind ever on the alert 
but never confused ; utterly fearless, but never reckless ; de- 
lighting in the profession of arms ; firm in discipline, but most 
courteous to and most considerate of the humblest private; 
never, under any circumstances, exhibiting the least irritation 
or temper; abstemious; modest; chaste in language, and of 
pure, irreproachable private character; and of a powerful per- 
sonal magnetism. Never was there an officer whose men would 
have followed him with more implicit faith and greater enthusi- 
asm, into any danger he might have proposed to lead them. 
Nowhere did Col. Steedman have a greater admirer than the 
big- hearted Gen. Clayton himself. Speaking of Col. Steedman 
in the Union Springs Herald, September, 1885, Gen. Clayton 
savs: "If Col. Steedman had been in the field instead of being 
confined to garrison duty during the war, be would have risen 
to the rank of major-general long before I did." 

Maj. Williams, being third in command, had no particular 
opportunity to show his ability as a military man. He was held 
in the highest esteem by every member of the regiment. Since 
the close of the war he has represented the third congressional 
district in the lower house of the Federal congress, and since 
his retirement from congress has for many years filled the 
honorable position of chancellor of his district. 

Under the immediate direction of Lieut. Joseph Wheeler, of 
the engineer corps, now the celebrated Gen. Wheeler of two 
wars, the regiment w^as soon put to erecting batteries along the 
heights west of Fort Barrancas : the Red Eagles for two motar 
guns in the rear of Fort Barrancas ; the Rough and Ready Pio- 
neers, for two thirty-two pounders in the depression between 
Fort Barrancas and the Old Light House ; the Perote Guards, 
for three ten-inch columbiads and one eight-inch columbiad at 
the Old Light House ; the Alabama Rifles for two ten-inch 
mortars between the Perote battery and the New Light House ; 
the Clayton Guards, for two ten-inch rifle guns at the New 
Light House. 

These companies were assisted by daily details from other 
companies of the regiment, cannon being brought by slow and 
laborious processes (rolled on skids) from Forts Barrancas and 

(68) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 21 

McRee. While getting a gun from the latter fort, the regiment 

heard fi^r the first time of their future friend and inseparable 
traveling companion, the army louse ; for it was on this occasion 
that an old regular soldier was stripped, shaved and carried 
publicly out to the beach, stretched uix)n the sand and scrubbed 
to rid him of the loathsome vermin. We would then have re- 
sented the slightest insinuation that these companions would 
form an accompaniment of our future wardrobe. 

This whole line was now astir with busy men. Work, drill, 
picket duty kept us moving; and after the cannon were mount- 
ed in their respective batteries, artillery drill was added. The 
scarcity of artillerists in the Confederate army at this stage of 
the war rendered it necessary that volunteers be trained at once 
for this important branch of the service, and this explains why 
our regiment came to be both an infantry and heavy artillery 
regiment. It continued: in this dual service until it left Fort 
Gaines, Ala., in May, 1864. 

Early in April the regiment cleared away the scrub bushes 
and seaweed between Fort Barrancas and Perote battery, and 
pitched their tents in front of the bay in full view of Fort 
Pickens, the Eufaula Pioneers remaining to garrison Fort 
Barrancas. The tents, with arbors of seaweed in front for 
shade, afforded a delightful retreat from the stale old barracks, 
but the warm spring brought clouds of mosquitos, and fleas of 
prodigious size and bloodthirsty intent became as numer- 
ous as the sands of the seashore. 

THE SONG OF THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG. 

The first time I ever heard the song of the Bonnie Blue Flag 
was under the following circumstances : Lieut. M. B. Locke 
of the Perote Guards, later lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, 
came to me about sundown one evening and asked me to at- 
tend the theatre with him that night in W'arrenton. I gladly 
accepted the invitation for several reasons. In the first place, 
it gave me an outing beyond our lines for a few hours. In the 
second, I was fond of theatres anyway. In the third, I always 
loved "]\Iike" and deem his personal friendship one of my most 
valuable earthly possessions. We went. The large building 
w^as densely packed with soldiers, and a few ladies. I have 
no recollection of any special points in the play, but at the close 

(69) 



22 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

was an incident never during life to be effaced from memory. 
A gentleman soloist, and a fine singer he was, advanced to the 
front of the stage bearing a large, blue, silk flag with a golden 
star in the center. Slowly unfurling the banner he began the 
song of the "Bonnie Blue Flag." As he named each State in 
the order of its secession the soldiers from these respective 
States cheered with the greatest enthusiasm. But as he con- 
cluded the last stanza, 

"For the lone star of the Bonnie Blue Flag 
Has grown to be eleven," 

he at the same time reversed the banner, displaying on the 
opposite side a galaxy of eleven stars, representing the eleven 
States of our new-bom Confederacy. The sentiment, the oc- 
casion, the highly dramatic rendition of the whole recitation 
electrified the great assembly. Every man at once seemed to 
lose his reason. They sprang to their feet, rushed forward fran- 
tically waving their caps and wildly gesticulating, some out of 
joy beating comrades with fists, others embracing and kissing, 
still others shouting and yelling like mad men. This reign of 
Bedlam lasted ten minutes. Though forty-two years have 
elapsed since this incident, the whole scene rises from the dead 
past as vividly as on the night of its occurrence. 

THE REGIMENT PAID FOR FIRST TWO MONTHS^ SERVICE IN SPECIE. 

In April or May the regiment was paid for its first two 
months' service in gold' and silver by the State of Alabama, 
privates receiving each $20 in gold and $2 in silver, and offi- 
cers in proportion. That night the whole encampment looked 
like a gambling establishment. Tiiis writer did his first gamb- 
line then and there at "seven up," ten cents a game, and after 
playing until after midnight came off one dime winner. He is 
glad to add that this was his last gambling. But expert card 
players reaped a harvest that night from "suckers." Jack Gib- 
son next day had about $200, I believe, and my recollection is 
that he carried nearly all this sum through to the close of the 
war. Though fond of playing cards, Jack was a good fellow 
and a good soldier. This was the last and only gold and silver 
paid the regiment for its services during the war, and if anv 
other Southern command was as fortunate even as we in this 
respect we are not aware of the fact. 

(70) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 28 

UNIFORMS. 

On reaching Barrancas no two companies were uniformed 
alike. As a rule each company had two suits, full dress and 
fatigue. The former was made of high grade material, tl -;t 
of the Perote Guards costing $50 a suit. It was full dress style, 
heavy gray cassimere, trimmed with blue, three rows of buttons 
in front of coat, and red plumes tipped with white. This suit the 
company bought at its organization, each member paying for 
his own uniform. The fatigue suit of the same company pre- 
sented by the ladies of Perote on our leaving home was of very 
dark cassimere, heavy weight, trimmed with light gray, single 
rov,' of buttons and frock skirts. 

About the first of July we were furnished by the ladies of 
Alabama with a regim.ental uniform. This was made of blue 
jeans, frock skirt reaching down to oiur knees, and with a single 
row of buttons in front. 

FLAGS. 

Each company reached Barrancas with its own company 
flag, and these were as unlike as the uniforms, but bearing a 
striking resemblance to the Stars and Stripes of the Union. 
They generally agreed in one point only, that of having a sin- 
gle star. Some had been inscribed Vv'ith mottoes and curious 
devices, such, for instance, as a rattlesnake in coil ready to 
strike his victim, with the motto, "Don't tread on me." This 
great diversity of company flags was especially conspicuous on 
regimental drill and dress parade. On the adoption of a sov- 
ereign flag, during summer the ladies of Montgomery sent the 
regiment a Confederate flag made of bunting, after which the 
company flags were seldom used. 

These flags vx^ere captured at Island No. 10, April, 1862, and 
are presumably in possession of Northern States. That of 
the Perote Guards has been recently locattsd at Madison, Wis., 
by Hon. Thomas "^d. Owen, Director of the Department of Ar- 
chives and History of Alabama. It will probably be restored to 
our State when the next legislature of Wisconsin convenes. 

GENERAL REVIEW OF THE ARMY AT BARRANCAS. 

Gen. Bragg determined to hold a general review of the army 
during the month of July, and for this purpose had all under- 

(71) 



24 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

bruhh removed from a space of half a mile square out in the 
piney woods about a mile in the rear of the new lijj^ht house, 
and cut of sight of Fort Pickens. It was a fearfully hot day 
and not a leaf of the forest stirred from its place. The hot 
sun burned our feet through our shoes. We stood in this posi- 
tion about an hour facing the sun with our long blue jeans 
coats buttoned tightly up to our chins while we enjoyed the 
luxury (?) of being reviewed by the general and his staft. 
After the general had passed along our front he took a position 
at one corner of the square where the army by companies 
marched past him as he sat on his highly caparisoned war-steed, 
cap in hand and head bared to the burning sun. This consumed 
another hour, by which time many of the men were prostrated 
with heat, and had to fall out of ranks. This was the only gen- 
eral review we had at Barrancas, and it was enough for us. 
For several weeks w^e had been looking forward to this event, 
anticipating a "big time," but as a pleasure affair the whole per- 
formance was a stupendous failure. 

SICKNESS AT BARRANCAS, FL.\., IN 1861. 

I shall speak briefly first of the Marine hospital, a distinct 
image of which as it was in 1861 still hangs in the picture gal- 
lery of memory, although I was never an inmate myself. The 
building was a magnificent structure of brick, three stories 
high, painted yellow, occupying a terraced elevation half a 
mile from the beach, enclosed by a heavy brick wall quadrangu- 
lar in form, with a large iron gate at the center of each side, 
almost obscured by that prince of all forest trees, the live oak, 
around whose dark massive trunks and long wandering 
branches ivy and ether vines had woven themselves into a solid 
coating, until leaping up and over-spreading the tops of tiecs 
and hospital they hung in graceful festoons along the walls of 
the latter. The spacious grounds were cari)eted with nature's 
perennial green, relieved here and there by clusters of brilliant 
and variegated flowers. The grove was enlivened by the cease- 
less singing of many birds, of which our own Southern meek- 
ing-bird is king, thus removing this one spot as far away as 
possible from ever\- other suggestion of war and turmoil and 
strife. A Confederate soldier, in full uniform and with fixed 
bayonet, is pacing his beat in front cf each gate and also of 

(72) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 25 

each entrance of the main buildings, while sisters of charity, 
dressed in black and wearing" white sun-bonnets were moving 
along the wide corridors and verandahs on their missions of 
mercy, or standing in groups of two or three in earnest consul- 
tation with the surgecn. If we enter and go through the apart- 
m.ents we shall find them large, well lighted and well ventilated ; 
the walls, furniture, and beddings scrupulously clean, and the 
patients receiving such food and attention as their respective 
conditions demand. 

During the spring, summer and fall measles, jaundice and 
malarial and typhoid fevers hadt successively invaded the camp 
of the 1st Alabama regiments; and, despite the rigid enforce- 
ment of sanitary regulations, the first two became epidemic and 
the last nearly so. Many believed that too much drilling in the 
hot sun, while closely laced up from hip to chin in heavy 
woolen uniforms, was responsible for so much sickness. As 
many of the regiment had never been accustomed to labor or 
active exercise O'f any kind ,this opinion m.ay have been, at least 
to some extent, well founded. Of course no blame can attach 
to any oflicer of the regiment on this account. Raw troops 
have to be drilled, disciplined and hardened for service, and 
officers alone have to do this. Besides, the "hardening pro- 
cess"' at Barrancas doubtless saved many lives to the regiment 
at Island No. 10, when the exposure and duties were so much 
greater, and where the new recruits suffered such terrible fatal- 
ity, wdiile the volunteers of '61 passed through the fiery ordeal 
of after campaigns with comparatively slight loss. 

Whatever the cause, the Marine hospital was full of sick 
from June to October. Every day several were carried down 
from the hospital to the "dead house" for interment, or ship- 
ment home, the latter almost invariably the rule in the South- 
ern army during 1861. To us, not yet accustomed to the hor-» 
rors of war, the situation was distressing. Said a nervous com- 
rade : "A man can die and be buried here with the least cere- 
mony and concern I ever saw." Our regiment lost about forty 
this year, mostly young men. Many a youth, who only a few 
months previous, had left a home of tenderness and luxury, 
and had gone forth at his country's call to drive back the invad- 
ers of the South, thus early and suddenly found the end of his 
brief career and earthlv ambition. 



(73) 



26 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

I distinctly recall to mind one, a youth of seventeen, of at- 
tractive personality, of superior intellect, of wealthy and dis- 
tingushed family, of magnanimous soul and Christian] charac- 
ter, and of high social position, all giving assurance of a most 
honorable and useful life — thus untimely cut dovvu. 

From the first of the son's illness the anxious father (for his 
mother had died several years before) was at the bedside of 
his son who was slowly dying of typhoid fever. Though the 
hospital service was excellent, and the father provided for his 
son every comfort and delicacy that heart could wish, two com- 
pany comrades, by permission, spent the long, lonesome, sad 
hours of night in affectionate ministration to their loved friend. 
Towards the last of his illness, the patient's mind began to 
wander. In dreams and during periods of aberration he was 
conversing with comrades in camp, or in a gay party of friends 
at home, or wearied of a long march, or engaged in a fierce 
battle with the enemy. After a protracted struggle, the end 
came peacefully ; the spirit of a noble youth, with all its future 
ho|)es and promises, had departed ; only dust remained ; but 
the natural color of the face returned ; a gentle smile, so char- 
acteristic in health and now so heaven-like, again lit up the 
wasted cheek. A fond, Christian father, overwhelmed with 
grief, bore him away from sorrowing comrades to still more 
anguished hearts of relatives and friends at home, where he 
was laid to rest, highly honored and sincerely lamented, by a 
whole community ; and where a marble monument marks the 
place of his earthly remains. 

This youth was Langdon L. Rumph of the Perote Guards ; 
the father, Dr. James D. Rumph. 

These were our first experiences in the horrors of war. Our 
sensibilities were yet tender, and the death of a comrade, a sad 
bereavement then, for we had not yet become accustomed to 
suffering and death by long-continued conflict and carnage. 
You who read this, read of the death of a soldier in time of war 
under most favorable conditions and circumstances possible. 
Later, we shall attempt to portray the death of a Confederate 
soldier on the field of battle. 

Unnumbered thousands of Southern soldiers as noble and 
promising as comrade Rumph met death, and met it like men, 
far away from home and loved ones ; sometimes from sickness 
or wounds in over-crowded hospitals, where there were neither 

(74) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 27 

nurses, food, comfort nor medical attention; sometimes in an 
instant on the field of battle ; sometimes in prison hospitals 
among our enemies, where it was a matter of total indifference 
whether they lived or died, though with some preference for 
the latter ; and, after death, were dumped into a hole in the 
ground with as little concern as a dead horse. But on this 
score we must not judge our enemy harshly. We Confederates 
shed no tears around the graves of dead Yankees. This is war. 
Confederate troops had been constantly arriving at Barran- 
cas until by the ist of Jime we had eight or ten thousand. Fed- 
erals had also been busy recruiting. Col. Brown with re- 
enforcements had superseded Lieut. Slemmer in command of 
Fort Pickens ; Billy Wilson's regiment of New York Zouaves 
had gone into tents half a mile above Fort Pickens on the 
island; batteries in front of us were being constructed. Still, 
a fellow feeling apparently prevailed between friend and foe 
as each, under the guns of the other, were allowed to bask in 
the morning and evening breeze without molestation. Even 
as late as April the Federal gunboat, Wyandotte, was permitted 
to land at the navy yard and take aboard supplies. The Yankees 
first broke the peace. Selecting a dark night, they captured 
and burned our little patrol boat, the Judith, lying out in the 
harbor. Not content, they shortly afterwards surprised the 
guard at the navy yard, burned the dry dock, spiked the guns 
of our battery manned by old ex-Federal regulars, and made 
good their escape. There was suspicion of treason. This ugly 
behavior called for correction. Accordingly, Gen. Bragg 
fitted out a detachment of about fifteen hundred men made up 
by details from the various regiments, put Gen. Anderson and 
Col. Chalmers in command, and left the rest to them. The 
Talladega Rifles and Wilcox True Blues represented the First 
Alabama. Marching to Pensacola, the expedition embarked 
on the steamer Times and on barges about dark on the evening 
O'f October 7, 1861, steamed west near the coast of Santa Rosa 
island and landed the troops on the north side of the island 
about 2 a. m. on the morning of the 8th. The objective point 
was Billy Wilson's Zouaves camp, about five miles above which 
the troops were landed. The plan was to advance stealthily 
down the island, capture the pickets and surprise the camp. 
This was successfully done, andi the Confederates were open- 
ing by platoons upon the camp before the Zouaves were aware 

(75) 



28 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

of their presence. This was about 4 a. m. The rebel yell was 
raised which was instantly responded to by the Confederates 
from the navy yard to Fort McRee, who, with eager expect- 
ancy, had remained awake all night to witness the battle. There 
was the wildest consternation among the Yankees. Many of 
the enemy were killed and wounded, a few were captured, 
more escaped through the darkness of the night. The sound 
of a horse's hoofs running at full speed down the plank road 
to Fort Pickens was distinctly heard at our batten,-. Torches 
were applied to the tents and arbors of seaweed, to the com- 
missary and other buildings near the camp. This so lighted 
up the island that we could plainly see the movements of our 
iroops from the mainland. The Yankees were gone. Da; light 
scon came and at the same time there advanced from the rear 
portals of Fort Pickens a long column of Federals. Our men, 
exhausted by the laborious march down the island through deep 
sand and dense thickets, and over rugged surface, slowly be- 
gan to retreat to the steamer Times and barges. The enemy 
followed, and our men were several times compelled to halt, 
form line and push back their assailants. At this juncture 
Gen. Bragg sent over the steamer Ewing with reinforcements, 
who took the place of our tired soldiers and drove the enemy 
down the island in confusion. The troops then re-embarked 
and landed at Pensacola. In the afternoon Gen. Bragg, under 
Hag of truce, brought away his killed and wounded from the 
island, the total loss being about thirty. Among the former 
were Capt. Bradford of a Florida regiment, and Lieut. Nelms 
of a Georgia regiment. Out of honor to these officers, by order 
of Gen. Bragg, the steamer Times was thenceforth called the 
Bradford, and the Ewing, the Nelms. 

Owing to this unpleasantness the regiment had to move its 
camp about half a mile in rear and out of sight of the enemy. 
We then began the erection of wooden barracks for winter 
quarters along the depression in the immediate rear of the Pe- 
rote battery. 

BOMBARDMENT OF FORT PICKKNS. 

On the morning of November 22. 1861, as the Bradford was 
steaming down to the navy yard from Pensacola, Fort Pickens 
opened fire upon it. This was the signal for a general attack 

(76) 



Pensacola Campaigri, 1861. 29 

on our lines, and in a few minutes cannon were darting flame 
and iron from every porthole of Fort Pickens and from every 
battery along the island. The former had more guns than all 
the Confederate forts and batteries combined, but it had to di- 
vide its attack along a range of four miles, while it received the 
concentrated fire of all the Confederates. Fort McRee was 
the weakest of all our defenses, and yet the most exposed both 
to the fleet and Fort Pickens. Its gallant commander, Villipi- 
gue, with hiis Georgia battalion had strengthened it somewhat 
with sand bags. For this reason Fort McRee had, from the 
outset, been the object of deepest concern and anxiety ; but our 
apprehensions v/ere greatly intensified when two of the enemy's 
largest men-of-war were moved up a channel even the existence 
of which had hitherto been unknown to us, cast anchor in the 
rear of the right Vv-ing oif the fort on which side the garrison 
had neither strengthened the walls against attack, nor mounted 
guns for defense ; and from this new position about a mile nearer 
Fort McRee then the other Federal vessels, opened a terrific 
fire upon this helpless part of the fort. At the same time the 
rest of the squadron, now about two miles off, made a vigorous 
attack on the right front of McRee. The situation was alarm- 
ing. Fleet and fort were soon enveloped with the smoke of 
their own guns and that of exploding shells, except as an oc- 
casional breeze afiforded a temporary glimpse. On one occas- 
ion simultaneous volleys raked the outer walls and parapets of 
the fort, wrapped it with flames of bursting shells, sent huge 
timbers and massive pieces of concrete flying through the air, 
swept av/ay the flagstaff and demolished a section of wall on 
the right. As dimly seen from our position the whole structure 
seemed to^ bulge and sink to the earth in one general conflagra- 
tion and gigantic heap of ruins. There was a momentary sus- 
pense of firing along the Confederate lines, as men stood in 
breathless excitement and gazed with the eagerness of despair 
at what appeared the final doom of the fort. "McRee is gone 
up," murmured some. Nobody denied or doubted it. A mo- 
ment later a friendly breeze partially lifting the smoke, re- 
vealed only a part demolished, the rest standing firm. This 
gave some relief, but a moment later it was noticed that the 
flag had disappeared. "The fort has surrendered," they now 
said. But these words were hardly spoken when the large gar- 
rison banner with broken staff and torn with shot was seen 

(77) 



30 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

slowly ascending the wall. Then a mighty shout of Confeder- 
ates, heard above the din of artillery and sounding like the 
distant murmur of many waters, rang along the bending shore 
from Fort ]McRee to the navy yard. 

While such was the struggle between the fleet and Fort Mc- 
Ree, a conflict of far greater proportion was on between Fort 
Pickens and Barrancas with its chain of batteries, all manned 
by the First Alabama regiment. Ten times more lead and iron 
were hurled against our positions than against Fort McRee, 
but shot and shell made little impression on our batteries of 
sand bags ; and Fort Barrancas, sunk in a great sand hill with 
very little brick wall above the surface, was almost as invul- 
nerable. The artillery on both sides aggregated about 300 
pieces, varying in calibre from 32 to 128 pounders; and as each 
was fired every few minutes, the deafening roar was beyond de- 
scription — beyond even conception save to those engaged. 
Every window light in Warrenton was shivered to atoms by 
the first few volleys, while those in Pensacola, eight miles dis- 
tant, were badly shaken up and many broken. In some in- 
stances blood poured from the noses of men working the guns, 
while the thunder of the conflict was afterwards declared to 
have been heard at Greenville, Camden, Montgomery, Hayne- 
ville, Union Springs, and Troy, distances ranging from one 
hundred to one hundred and twenty-five miles from the scene 
of action. 

No damage v/as done Barrancas or any of its batteries, but 
we inflicted material damage to Fort Pickens. 

The battle continued all day with unabated energ\'. About 
dark the firing ceased, except Capt. Posey's mortar battery that 
kept up a duel all night with a Yankee mortar battery, furnish- 
ing quite a spectacular entertainment to the two armies. 

Fort McRee had learned some things by the day's experience ; 
and under cover of darkness, and, assisted by heavy details, 
her men built a battery of three guns half a mile down the 
shore, between the fort and the two men-of-war. 

Worn out by the day's hard work, we ate a cold lunch and 
retired to the rough planks of our "old cabin home" for need- 
ed rest. But a seaward breeze setting up, whistled about the 
roofs and around the corners of our cottages in such exact imi- 
tation of a coming hostile shell, to which our ears had all day 
been accustomed that we were frequently startled from our 

(78) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 31 

dreams, and sprang from our bv.nks. Many a hearty laugh was 
indulged in during the night on this score. Rather an "airy" 
sort of battle was this, but later in the night we got up another 
sort ,almost as airy but on a much grander scale. About 1 1 p. 
m. our pickets began discharging their guns along the beach. 
At iirst the shots were scattering, but rapidly increased until 
it seemed like the whole picket force was hotly engaged, while 
in camp the "long roll" was beating to arms, and officers shout- 
ing to their rnen to "fall in," as if the whole Yankee army was 
landing about two hundred ^'ards in o'ur front. Men ran hither- 
thither in hurly-burley style, sometimes knocking each other 
down in their blird and mad rush for clothing, guns and equip- 
ment. As soon as formed, the companies were "double-quick- 
ed" to their respective batteries. On reaching his battery, a 
certain captain of the regiment made a speech that night to his 
company that was repeated many a time afterward around the 
camp-fires of the regiment. As he drew up his company in 
line, lie thus harangued the men at the top of his voice, and in 
a high key: "Stand firm, men! Stand firm! Think of your 
homes and firesides I You have done well today, and we expect 
you to do well tonight." It was, of course, a false alarm, a 
very common occurrence in any army in time of war, and after 
an hour's detention, we were dismissed to our quarters. I will 
state, however, for the benefit of the uninitiated, that these 
night alarms, far in the dead hour of nighit, are more trying to 
the nerves than a real battle in daytime. 

At dawn next morning, November 23, Fort McRee's men 
early began the day's battle by a vigorous attack on the two 
warships. After a hot contest for an hour, the latter retired 
out of range, taking their position along with the rest of the 
fleet, where they could do the fort less damage. 

By 8 o'clock the bombardment was again in full blast, every 
gun on both sides being brought into action. The Yankees, 
however, had a better range of our positions, and landed their 
shot and shell with greater precision. Frequently several shells 
would explode almost simultaneously in or above a single bat- 
tery, and the men would take refuge in their "rat-holes" for 
protection. But these "rat holes," covered with coarse, loose 
sand to a depth of about four feet, were places of fanciedi, rather 
than real security. They offered good protection against small 
fragments of shells, but we are confident that a shell from a 
mortar would have penetrated without any difficulty. 

(79) 



32 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

The second day's battle was essentially a repetition of the 
first, with no abatement of spirit on either side. The firing 
ceased at dark, excetpt that Capt. Posey again kept up his 
mortar battery duel all night. The enemy did not resume the 
attack next morning, and thus ended the great bombardment — 
the greatest, perhaps, during the Civil War, when both num- 
ber and calibre of guns are taken into account. By order of 
Gen. Bragg, the words "November 22 and 23, 1861," were 
inscribed on the banner of the ist Alabama regiment. 

On January i, 1862, Gen. Bragg had occasion to be absent, 
leaving Gen. Anderson in command. The latter opened up a 
fight which lasted all day. Rumor had it that Gen. Bragg was 
much displeased at this attack. All the Confederate forts and 
batteries w^ere manned by the First Alabama, except Fort Mc- 
Ree and a battery at the navy yard. 

REGIMENT REORGANIZED. 

The period of our enlistment (twelve months) was now 
drawing to a close, and the question of reorganization was a 
lively theme with the regiment. When we volunteered, we 
thought we could whip the Yankees in three months. It was 
now evident that we were entering upon a long and bloody 
conflict. Accordingly, the Confederacy was enlisting soldiers 
only for three years, or the war. But as the First had already 
served one year. Gen. Bragg thought it just that we be received 
for two years, and we were mustered in for that period — the 
only regiment perhaps in the Confederate service so enlisted. 
Three companies — the Eufaula Pioneers, Eufaula Rifles, and 
Red Eagles — declined to reorganize, and their places were taken 
by Capt. Pruitt's company from Barbour county ; Capt. 
Knowles's company from Macon county ; and Capt. John F. 
Whitfield's company from Autauga and Montgomery counties. 
Of the seven companies reorganized, about half of the men and 
oflicers re-enlisted, the rest being discharged and enlisting in 
other commands. 

Upon reorganization, I. G. W. Steedman was unanimously 
elected Colonel; S. L. Knox, Major; S. D. Steedman was ap- 
pointed Adjutant; Dr. J. C. Hamilton, Surgeon; Dr. Madding, 
Assistant Surgeon; D. Camiichael, Quartermaster; Capt. B. 
Sullens, Commissar}'. The companies were commanded respect- 

(80) 



Pensacola Campaign, 1861. 33 

ively by J. D. Meadows, Capt. Co. A (Tallapoosa Rifles) ; D. 
W. Ramsey, Capt. Co. B (Wilcox True Blues) ; J. T. Stubbs, 
Capt. Co. C (Guards of the Sunny South) ; R. H. Isbell, Capt. 
Co. D (Talladega Rifles) ; John H. Wood, Capt. Co. E (Rough 
and Ready Pioneers) ; Richard Williams, Capt. Co. F (Clay- 
ton Guards); M. B. Locke, Capt. Co. G (Perote Guards; 

Knowles, Capt. Co. H ; W. H. Pruitt, Capt. Co. I ; John 

F. Whitfield, Capt. Co. K (John Gill Shorter, Artillery). No 
election was held for lieutenant-colonel, because, as yet, regi- 
mental sentiment had not united on any single individual for 
the position ; and, besides, as the regiment was soon to be 
largely recruited, it seemed just that the recruits should have 
a voice in the selection of at least one field officer. At Island 
No. 10, owing to so much sickness and other causes the elec- 
tion was not considered, and accordingly an election for 
lieutenant-colonel was not held until we reached Port Hudson 
in October, 1862. 

We received our furloughs for thirty days, January 17, 1862, 
and left on the first train for our respective homes, where we 
were welcomed, banqueted and lionized by all, but especially 
by sweethearts, as conquering heroes. Social entertainments 
were given almost every night at which "soft eyes looked love 
to eyes that spake again." Very few then could lay claim to 
having seen twelve months' service, and to having participated 
in three battles. Besides, the hot sun at Barrancas had so 
tanned our skins that we in no wise resembled the tender-faced 
bo}'s of twelve months before, but had become veterans in ap- 
pearance. The war spirit was at red heat, and the military was 
everywhere conspicuous throughout the State. At the expira- 
tion of our furloughs we left our respective communities amid 
impassioned speeches and pathetic scenes of separation from 
loved ones. 

When the companies reached Barrancas late in February the 
regiment had over one thousand men on its rolls, nearly two- 
thirds of whom knew nothing of arms or service. Many of the 
boys, who were in school or college when they enlisted a year 
previous, had carried back with them school books in Latin, 
Greek, mathematics, and other branches, under the delusion 
that we woiild be at Barrancas to the end of the war; and, as 
we had several scholarly teachers in the regiment, we expected 
to fight Yankees and pursue our studies at the same time. 
3 

(81) 



CHAPTER II. 



ISLAND NUMBER TEN CAMPAIGN, AND PRISON 
LIFE, 1862. 



ISLAND NO. 10 CAMPAIGN. 

Within a few days we were put to dismounting the big guns 
in our batteries. We knew this portended early evacuation of 
Barrancas. The work was carried on at night through bUnd- 
ing clouds of dust that filled our eyes and throats, and which 
caused an epidemic of bad colds. Doubtless, this condition of 
our men was, in a large degree, responsible for so much fatal 
sickness in our regiment a week or two later at Island No. 10. 

On the morning of March 5, 1862, our regiment, having more 
the appearance of a brigade than regiment, led by our own 
Steedman, and headed by a brass band, marched from Barrancas 
to Pensacola. It was an ideal spring morning, and the live 
oak groves and wild flowers along the way were in full bloom 
and resonant with the melodies of singing birds. All trunks, 
books, and heavy clothing had been shipped home. We were 
under marching orders for Island No. 10, a military post in the 
]\Iississippi river commanded by Brigadier-General J. P. !Mc- 
Cown. 

The next morning we boarded flat cars at Pensacola depot. A 
cold raiin was falling that beat upon us until we reached Tensas 
landing. From Tensas wc went by steamer to Mobile ; thence 
in two sections and in passenger coaches by the Mobile and 
Ohio Railroad to Corinth, Miss. ; thence by the Memphis and 
Charleston Railroad to Memphis, Tenn., which we reached early 
on March 12, 1862. We were at once transferred to a 
steamer and started to Island No. 10. The boat was a leaky 
old transport, unfit for service, and of insufficient capacity to 
carry our regimicnt comfortably, compelling us to leave tents 
and heavy baggage behind. We were packed almost to suffo- 
cation on both decks. The river was at its highest flood, and 

(82) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, and* Prison Life, 1862. 35 

down its maddened and foaming billows uprooted trees and 
debris were being driven with resistless fury. We faced all 
day a cold north wind, and when night came the men spread 
down their blankets, covering every inch of available space, each 
trying to get as near the smokestack as possible. Learning 
during the day that the Federals had captured New Madrid, 
Mo., about twelve miles below Island No. 10, we landed about 
dark at Tipton ville, and at once marched to the former point, 
about six miles distant. We were halted for the night in an 
old cornfield, where, wrapped in blankets and stretclijed on the 
groundi, we were soon asleep. An hour later we were aroused 
from this blissful state by a downpour of rain that lasted until 
daylight. Our tents did not reach us until a week later, during 
which time we suffered much from cold and rain. 

Island No. 10 contained at this time about forty acres, was 
situated in the Mississippi river near the corner of Tennessee, 
Missouri and Kentucky. Its surface was about ten feet above 
the river at this stage. The eastern bank of the river for a 
mile or more was about twenty feet above the river level. Half 
a mile above the island the river, flowing south, abruptly turns 
northward to New^ Madrid, thence southeast to Tiptonville, a 
distance of 35 miles, thus forming a great peninsula, across 
whose neck from Tiptonville to Island No. 10 is only six 
miles. Nearly a mile above the island, where the river turns 
northwest, the east bank sinks to the general level of the valley ; 
and there the river, overleaping its banks in a sheet of water 
half a mile wide and from two to five feet deep, flows southeast 
to Reel Foot lake, eight miles distant, encircling at this time 
Tiptonville, our fortifications and army in a great island. On 
the river's bank in the upper edge of this sheet of water, and 
facing directly up the river, was Rucker's battery of six guns 
forming our outpost defence. It was a miserable affair, knee 
deep in water, and its weak parapets affording little protection 
to men, guns, or ammunition. The ordnance and details could 
reach it only at night and in small boats ; sometimes up the 
channel of the river, sometimes across the sheet of water through 
the swamp. Naturally, it was the main point of attack. 

Besides Rucker's, there were six batteries on the east bank of 
the river, each mounting from two to four guns var}'ing in cal- 
ibre from 32 to 64-pounders; and on the island proper there 
were two batteries of four guns each, and an old barge anchored 

(83) 



36 First Alabama Regiment. C. S. A. 

in front of the island and having a battery of four guns. There 
were also quite a number of unmounted cannon. Our regi- 
ment, without sleep the previous night, mounted two guns on 
the 14th of March. 

The next day the enemy's fleet of mortar boats and iron-clad 
gunboats arrived and at once attacked us. concentiating their 
fire on Rucker. All the batteries replied with vigor, and occa- 
sionall}' with effect. The cannonading was heavy and lasted 
until night with only slight damage to Rucker's battery. 

Early on the morning of March 16, three of the enemy's 
strongest gunboats lashed together, advanced within close range 
and opened a vigorous fire upon Rucker's battery, and also upon 
our position below. They were now within fair range of all 
our batteries and every gim was brought intoi action. All day 
cannon thundered from the gunboats, the east bank, and the 
island. At Rucker's, one man was killed and several wounded 
by a shen. Beyond this there was no material damage to either 
side. This closed the biggest fight at Island No. 10, the fleet 
after this keeping well out of our reach. Major H. S. Foote, 
son of Mississippi's distinguished congressman, aid-de-camp to 
General McCown at Island No. 10, relates the follorvving inci- 
dent of Col. Steedman at this battle: "The ammunition was 
exhausted by 3 p. m. The Colonel of the First Alabama, who 
was at Rucker's with some of his men, came down to headquar- 
ters through water, waist deep in places, to get cannon car- 
tridges. The cartridges were carried by negroes who had vol- 
unteered for the work, the Colonel of the First leading the way, 
I bringing up the rear. The sight inside that place (Rucker's 
battery) was enough to dishearten and terrify the bravest. 
There were our men, fighting with the desperation of despair; 
some of the guns were dismounted, the platforms sunk in mud 
and water, and dead and wounded lying around, the bursting 
shells ; Rucker, like the hero he was. encouraging his men ; and 
the men, stripped to the waist, at their guns, and all other sad 
sights of a fort almost battered to pieces by cannon shot. Nev- 
ertheless, that colonel of the First Alabama coolly walked into 
this chamber of death and there remained until the last car- 
tridge was disposed of." 

This fort was not captured until after its evacuation, and the 
retreat of the army. 

(84) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, andi Prison Life, 1862. 37 

Shortly after this the Federals fitted out at night a detach- 
ment of about fifty men and sent it down the river during a 
terrific storm to spike the guns in Rucker's battery. With 
muffled oars and under cover of darkness they reached the bat- 
tery undiscovered, surprised the sentinels, and before the guard 
that was bivouacking fifty yards away could be aroused from 
sleep and reach the battery, spiked the guns and escaped. 

In the meanwhile the enemy had successfully passed trans- 
ports across the point of land opposite our batteries, and reached 
the river below us. The water at this point was several feet 
deep from the overflow of the river, and the enemy, by cutting 
down trees a few feet below the surface of the water and re- 
moving logs and other obstructions from a small bayou effected 
a practicable canal through the swamps for transports. The 
water was not deep enough for gunboats. 

The enemy now attempted to run a gunboat past our batteries. 
Accordingly, on the night of April 4, 1862, which was stormy 
and dark, the pickets observed by the occasional flashes of light- 
ning, unusual activity among the gunboats. A few minutes 
later, the Carondelet, sunk nearly to the water's edge, and pro- 
tected by bales of hay, dashed out from the fleet on its perilous 
voyage. Smoke of stygian blackness rolled in immense volume 
from its smokestack as revealed here and there along its way by 
occasional lightning. It steamed directly in the face of Ruck- 
er's battery, approaching within two hundred yards oif it ; and 
then turning at right angles west pursued its course under a 
heavy fire from our lines without returning a shot. The guns 
of Rucker were out of order and could make no attack. The 
other batteries hurled tons of shot and shell at the bold craft. 
Reaching a point of safety below, the Carondelet fired a gun as 
a signal to the fleet that it had passed in safety. 

On the morning of April 6, heavy firing in the direction of 
Point Pleasant, opposite New Madrid, indicated that the enemy 
was landing troops there under cover of the guns of the Caron- 
delet. About 6 p. m., before we had eaten supper, the regiment 
w^as ordered to report at headquarters. There v^'ere hardly 
three hundred men in ranks. An hour later all the available 
troops of the command had assembled, leaving a few in charge 
of our fortifications, and we started in the direction of Point 
Pleasant, presumably to recapture our battery. About 2 a. m. 
we were drawn up in line half a mile from Point Pleasant, ex- 

(83) 



38 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

pecting to advance. But we were soon ordered to rest, and in 
a few minutes were asleep. When we awoke a heavy rain was 
falling. We were hungry and had no rations. About 9 a. m. 
our commissary wagons arrived. We commenced to cook ra- 
tions, but were ordered, rather excitedly, to "fall in." We were 
soon in full retreat toward Tiptonville. The morning was 
warm, the road wet and muddy, we were tired and hungry, and 
all blankets and other surplus articles were promiscuously scat- 
tered along the way. The enemy's cavalry from Point Pleas- 
ant hung upon our rear, but kept at a safe distance. It was 
nearly sundown when we entered a large plantation in rear and 
in full view of Tiptonville, the smokestack of a gunboat being 
seen at the landing. We crossed the plantation about a mile 
east, and entered the swamp now dense with the foliage 
of spring. It was getting dark. The command was led 
by fresh troops who, becoming excited at some of our cavalry 
returning from a reconnoisance in front, produced some confu- 
sion in that quarter for a few seconds. Our gallant Major, S. 
L. Knox, commanding the regiment at that time, commanded 
the First Alabama "front face, right dress," and in a moment 
our regiment presented as straight a line as was ever seen on 
dress parade, standing alone and facing the supposed direction 
of the enemy. The whole thing was so sudden it was a severe 
test of the courage of the First Alabama, the presumption being 
that we had fallen into an ambuscade, as the enemy was known 
to be in force in that vicinity. The fresh troops were fonned 
about half a mile from this point ; and our regiment after stand- 
ing half an hour in this position, aligned with them. Here we 
stacked our arms, as we then thought only for the night, but in 
fact for surrender. During the night Gen. W. W. Mackall, whoa 
week before had superseded General McCown, capitulated April 
8, and the next morning we were formed and marched without 
guns to the river bank in an open field, and were formally sur- 
rendered to General Payne. General Mackall was much criti- 
cised for this surrender. Incompetency, and even treason, were 
charged, but there was no ground for either. Generals Mc- 
Cown and Mackall did the best that could have been done by 
anv officers under all the circumstances. It was expected that 
our command would be sacrificed when sent to Island No. 10. 
General Bra,xton Bragg so informed Colonel Stecdman several 
times since the war. It was done to hold Pope in check with 

(86) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, andi Prison Life, 1862. 39 

an army of forty thousand men until Albert Sidney Johnston 
could attack Grant at Shiloh. The idea that Mackall could 
have hastily constructed barges and escaped with his command 
across the Reel Foot lake, which at this point was ten miles 
wide, is absurd. True, a few fugitives, even some too sick to 
fall in line when we left camp, did this. But though this was 
possible to a few scattered men, while the army engaged the 
attention of the enemy, it would have been altogether impossi- 
ble for the army itself. All honor to Generals McCown and 
Mackall and brave officers, who, with only five thotisand men, 
hardly half of them fit for duty, kept back Pope for nearly a 
month. The sacrifice of our command alone gave Albert Sid- 
ney Johnston hope of victorv^ at Shiloh ; and our sufferings and 
fate, terrible as they were, were not in vain. 

OFFICERS AND PRIVATES GO TO PRISON. 

It has been noted that only three hundred men of the First 
Alabama reported for duty at the camps when we set out on 
our march from Island No. 10, and that Major Knox, instead 
of Colonel Steedman, commanded the regiment at its surrender. 
This ratio of men on the rolls to number able for duty pre- 
vailed in all other commands, so out of five thousand Confeder- 
ates on the island, about fifteen hundred surrendered in line. 
The First had about one-third of its men in line. The terrible 
epidemics of measles, mumps and pneumonia had depleted our 
ranks, being especially severe on recruits. The First must have 
lost four hundred men in the twenty-seven days of ser^dce here, 
and from the effects of that service afterwards in prison. Many 
died and were buried at Island No. 10 before the surrender. 
After the surrender, the officers were transferred to Johnson's 
Island, the non-commissioned officers and privates to^ Camp But- 
ler, Springfield, 111. ; to Camp Douglas, Chicago, 111. ; to Mad- 
ison, Wis., and to other points of the north. For a month after 
reaching these prisons the mortality wa.s fearful. One hundred 
and five of our regiment died at Madison, Wis. Here the 
graves of our First Alabama dead, along with other Confederate 
graves there, were marked, and the cemetery cared for during 
many years by a noble Southern woman, Mrs. Alice Waterman, 
now (1904) dead. She deserves the lasting gratitude of every 
Alabamian. A monument should be erected in this "Confed- 

(87) 



40 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

erate Rest," containing the names of each dead soldier ; also the 
name of Alice Waterman in bold relief. We have before us a 
list of the names, so there can be no doubt about this.* 

The Federal authorities, at least at Camp Butler, where the 
writer was in prison, did all that medical skill, hospital stores 
and comfortable quarters could do to arrest the appalling death 
rate of the Confederate prisoners, but in vain. While at Island 
No. lo this writer visited sick friends in two of our hospitals ; 
one on a steamer anchored opposite the island in the river ; the 
other in a church, one or two miles in rear of our line. In the 
former the men were lying on the floor across the cabin, head 
to wall and feet to feet, with a space of twelve or eighteen inches 
between each. They all had pneumonia, and the space be- 
tween each wais literally covered with phlegm expectorated by 
the patients. The same was the case in the aisle, which was 
about three feet wide. The coughing, wheezing and groans 
were distressing. The situation at the church was the same, 
except that the patients had bunks. Our entire stock of medical 
stores seems to have consisted of one single item — blue mass. 
We have seen our surgeon standing in the door of the hospital 
tent with a wad of the delicious delicacy in his hand, and issuing 
it out to the sick apparently without regard to the nature of the 
disease. 

The sickness and mortality at Island No. lo are not to be 
wondered at, when all the circumstances are considered. Our 
men were mostly from extreme South Alabama, two-thirds of 
whom, fresh from home and wholly unused to hardships, had 
been suddenly thrown into a cold and rigorous climate at a 
season of the year most inviting to pneumonia, had been terri- 
bly and continuously exposed day and night, were without suit- 
able food, and practically without medicine with which to com- 
bat the epidemic. The old soldiers of the regiment of 1861 
lost very few of their number. Colonel Steedman, one of the 
ablest officers of the garrison, was stricken with pneumonia in 
both lungs a week before the surrender, and was in the hospital 
at the time of that event. When the surrender was known he 
was placed upon a litter by four of bis regiment, who intended 

♦For list of dead buried at Madison, and the report of Col. Steed- 
man on treatment of Confederate prisoners at Johnston's Island, 
see Chapter VIII, infra. 

(88) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, and Prison Life, 1862. 41 

to carry him beyond the enemy's line, sometimes wading- water 
knee-deep. He begged them to leave him and make their own 
escape which they emphatically refused to do, and all were cap- 
tured together. 

Colonel Steedman was sent first to Gratiot Street prison in 
St. Louis, Mo., in, which city were many Southern sympathizers ; 
and among these was James Harrison, whose daughters were 
also in sympathy with the South, one of whom (Dora) be- 
came the wife of the colonel in the fall of 1865. From St. Louis 
as soon as he was convalescent. Colonel Steedman was trans- 
ferred to Columbus, Ohio, paroled for two weeks during further 
convalescence, thence to Johnson's Island, Lake Erie. 

After the surrender to General Payne at Tiptonville on the 
morning of April 8, 1862, w.e spent the day in conversation 
with the Federals. Men and officers repelled as an insult the 
least insinuation that the war, professedly for the Union, in- 
volved the emancipation of slaves, declaring they would lay 
down their arms at once if they had the remotest apprehension 
that such was the case. Though doubtless sincere at the time, 
they did not make good this declaration upon the issuance of 
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation nine months later. That 
night, as usual at Island No. 10, the rain fell in torrents. 

The next day we went by steamer to New Madrid, built fires 
of logs on the river bank, while the Federals gavte us full rations 
and planks to sleep on. The next morning our officers left on 
steamer for Johnson's Island, and late in the evening the men 
boarded a large transport (used for carrying horses, cattle and 
supplies) for Cairo, which place we reached at daylight next 
morning. About 10 a. m. we were marched to the railroad 
depot, and late that evening left for Camp Butler. We reached 
Decatur early next morning, where a curious crowd had assem- 
bled to see "the rebels." As the train was detained here half 
an hour some of our men offered at auction Confederate money ; 
or as the Yankees called it, "Jeflf Davis script," and were sur- 
prised that it found ready buyers from 10 to 20 cents on the 
dollar. 

That evening we reached Camp Butler, were formed in line, 
searched for weapons, and assigned to tents situated between 
two rows of barracks. 

Camp Butler, an old camp of instruction, was about five 
miles east of Springfield, 111., on the Sangamon river; and, at 

(89) 



42 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

the time of our arrival, had no walls. The soil was black and 
waxy, and during wet weather was very disagreeable. A line 
of soldiers called the "dead line" surrounded it. Colonel Mor- 
rison was in command — a big, rotund, rubicund, mellow-nosed 
Yankee, but withal a kind-hearted old gentleman. A regiment 
of Black Dutch constituted the guard. They were a set of 
sneaks and scoimdrels, several times firing into our quarters 
without provocation, and on one occasion killing, on another 
wounding a prisoner. There was such a determined protest by 
the prisoners against such barbarism, that it was not repeated. 
About a month later these Dutch were sent to Virginia, v.-here 
the regiment was annihilated (much to our delight) by Jack- 
son; and a regiment of citizens (the 69th Illinois) guarded us 
from then on. These men treated us with every kindness con- 
sistent with military usage. 

Colonel Fonda, their commander, succeeded Colonel Morri- 
son as commander of the post, and he also was a good man. 
But, as previously stated, the fearful effects of exposure at 
Island No. 10 followed us to Camp Butler, and every day the 
prison hospital was receiving large accessions from our num- 
bers, most of whom went thence to the cemeter\'. This fact, 
with our separation from loved ones, especially during the ex- 
citing times of war, required all our courage to withstand. 
Many died solely of melancholy, and it is doubtful if a single 
prisoner who could not keep up his spirit ever survived prison 
life. Hence we sought all kinds of diversions, of which making 
finger rings from bones, gutta-percha buttons and setting them 
with silver or gold, or with the bright inner shells of mussels, 
obtained abundantly from Sangamon river, was the chief. It 
was astonishing what skill some acquired in this art, and what 
beautiful rings they turned out v.'ith rudest tools. 

The winter broke suddenly into spring a little after May i. 
This was the third time that we had seen the trees bud for spring 
this year; at Pensacola in March, at Island No. 10 in April, 
and at Camp Butler in May. The prisoners now became 
healthy and everything more cheerful. We eagerly sought the 
morning papers for news from the front, but as nearly all the 
papers were in sympathy with the Union cause we had little 
faith in their statements, except the St. Louis Republican, which 
was thought to be in sympathy with the South. Whenever the 
news of victor\' reached us, the prisoners made the welkin ring 
with cheers and rebel yells, 

(90) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, andi Prison Life, 1862. 43 

In the meanwhile prisoners had been escaping in considerable 
numbers by running the "dead line" at night, generally in squads 
of six or seven at a time. Though between four and five hun- 
dred thus escaped, it was remarkable that not one was ever 
killed or wounded. A few, after weeks of hunger, toil and per- 
petual fear, made good their way to Dixie, but most were recap- 
tured and brought back to prison, where they were put in close 
confinement for a few days. At this time there were many 
Southern sympathizers in this part of Illinois, and if the pris- 
oners had known who they were and where they lived, the trip 
would have been easy. Colonel Morrison, while commander, 
was much chagrined by the escape of so many prisoners, and 
believed that his sentinels were bribed. On one occasion, about 
half drunk, he addressed a body of prisoners thus : "I want 
you rebels tO' explain to me how so many of you have escaped 
from this prison without a rascal of you ever getting hit by a 
bullet. You can't fool me ; there is trading going on here. 
You can buy any man I have for 25 cents — any officer here for 
50 cents — and me for a dollar," emphasizing the last assertion 
by a heavy stroke of his handi upon his breast. The prison was 
soon enclosed by a plank wall twelve feet high. After this two 
efforts to escape were made by tunneling and bribery, but with- 
out success. A few, however, made their escape by a bold dash 
at night to the wall, and by jerking oflf the planks. The pris- 
oners at Camp Butler were given the full ration of a United 
States soldier, which was more than they could eat. The sur- 
plus was traded at the commissary for stationery, gutta-percha 
buttons, or for any other article we wished E. J. M. Padgett 
was the regimental commissary, and he looked closely after our 
interests. 

When the hot days of June came Colonel Fonda every morn- 
ing formed in line as many prisoners as wished! to spend an hour 
or two bathing, and marched them down to the beautiful San- 
gamon ri\ier. Though there were sometimes more than a 
thousand prisoners, there were never more than fifteen guards, 
Colonel Fonda having previously told us that he was doing this 
for our pleasure, and that he depended upon our honor not 
to escape, which confidence no prisoner ever attempted to vio- 
late. 



(91) 



44 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

OUR GOOD TREATMENT IN PRISON EXPLAINED. 

Owing to our kind treatment while in prison at Camp Butler, 
Springfield, 111., in the summer of 1862, it was believed at the 
time by the Confederate prisoners that the head of the Federal 
Commissary was a Southern sympathizer, but of course we 
kept very quiet on that subject while there. After the publi- 
cation of my sketch in The Advertiser, October 26 and Novem- 
ber 30, 1902, I received the following letter, which explains 
itself : 

"313 Catoma Street, 
"Montgomery, Ala., March 13, 1902. 

Mr. E. Y. McMorries, Plantersville, Ala.: 

"Dear Sir — I have been very much interested in your sketch of 
the 1st Alabama Regiment in The Advertiser, especially in that 
part relating to the prisoners at Camp Butler, 111. I was only a 
child at the time, but have a distinct recollection of many events of 
the period. My father, John S. Bradford, although a Southern 
sympathizer, was head of the Commissary Department for a period 
at Camp Butler, at what time and for how long I do not know. 
My mother was born in Kentucky, and was even much more of a 
I 'rebel,' as she was at that time called, than my father. She was 
very active in helping the prisoners, especially those in hospitals. 
I remember her saying that what the sick seemed to crave more 
than anything else was milk. This she always tried to supply. We 
kept several cows on our place, then just outside of Springfield, 
and she had a large can made to order, and went almost daily to 
the hospital with milk, fruits, delicacies, etc. She is still living on 
the old place, which is now inside the city limits, having been a 
resident of Springfield over sixty-five years. She is now 87, and in 
good health, and has never been 'reconstnicted.' 

"The cemetery at Camp Butler is kept by the government. It is 
enclosed by a brick wall. The graves of the Federals are marked 
by marble headstones, and while the Confederate graves are not 
so marked, the section containing them is well kept. 

"Yours truly, 

"John Bradford." 



(92) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, andl Prison Life, 1862. 45 

There can be no doubt of the truth of every statement in the 
foregoing letter, and we owe a debt of gratitude to these noble 
people far beyond our ability to pay. They were friends in 
need. It must be remembered that it has cost her much greater 
sacrifice, and has demanded much higher courage to maintain 
her Southern sentiments than any native Southern woman re- 
siding in the South. 

While this fair treatment was accorded the prisoners at Camp 
Butler, especially as to rations, the following from Colonel 
Steedman (1902) shows the treatment of our officers in prison 
at the same time on Johnson's Island. The reader must not for- 
get that this was in 1862, and must not confound this with the 
cruel treatment in 1863-5, ^^ shown later by the official report 
of Colonel Steedman. As a rule, we think Southern prisoners 
were treated reasonably well until after the Federal authorities 
adopted so-called "Retaliatory Measures." 

OFFICERS IMPRISONED AT JOHNSOn's ISLAND. 

"All the officers of the First Alabama regiment, except the 
few who escaped or were absent on furlough, were imprisoned 
on Johnson's Island for about six months. This island is situ- 
ated in vSandusky Bay, Lake Erie, three miles from Sandusky 
city. It was a beautiful and healthy location^ for a prison. No 
one but officers were confined there. The buildings were new, 
wooden shells, but clean and comfortable, except in the extreme 
cold of the rigorous winter in that northern climate. The 
prisoners were well fed on good army rations, and there was 
little sickness among them. They were guarded by Home 
Guard militia, who treated them fairly well. 

To this generally good treatment there was a single excep- 
tion lamentable to the Confederates and disgraceful to the per- 
petrator. A guard, without provocation or notice, viciously 
shot Capt. J. D. Meadows through the thigh, which came near 
lesulting in his death. A brave soldier, or more perfect gen- 
tleman than the victim of this barbarity never breathed. 

Early in September, 1862, our officers were sent by rail to 
Cairo, and thence by steamboat to Vicksburg for exchange. 
These officers were crowded on the steamboat like so many cat- 
tle, just as our men were. Colonel Steedman informs me that 
he was glad to get ai place on the Texas deck by the side of the 

(93) 



46 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

pilot house, large enough to spread his blanket. The pilots 
spit their tobacco juice across him, and some times by acci- 
dent on him. Their rations were raw pork and "hard tack," 
which they broiled on long splinters before the boiler furnaces, 
each man taking his turn. The crew treated them kindly. It 
was a joyful day when officers and privates met at Vicksburg 
and in camp at Jackson." 

It was difficult to get letters to or from the South bevond the 
Federal lines. Few ever reached us or our Southern homes. 

Governor Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, afterwards presi- 
dent of the United States, visited the prison during the sum- 
mer, and induced many Tennesseeans to take the oath of allegi- 
ance. As these were marched out of prison they were jeered 
by the prisoners. No one of the First Alabama took the oath. 

Exchange of prisoners. 

On the morning of September 7, 1862, the First Alabama, 
forming a part of the second detachment of prisoners for ex- 
change, and guarded by a company of the 69th Illinois, left on 
flat cars for Vicksburg by way of Alton, 111. The fertile lands 
along the route covered with luxuriant crops of waving corn 
and large orchards of apple trees bending with heavy clusters of 
luscious fruit delighted us, the happiest of the happy. At every 
station were large crow^ds of every age, sex and condition to see 
the "rebels." The girls chunked the boys with red apples, and 
on several occasions slyly exhibited a miniature Confederate 
flag. At Alton the citizens gave us a lunch at the landing just 
before we embarked on the steamer. There was a large con- 
course of citizens and all treated us courteously, especially the 
ladies. An aged gentleman, with long flowing locks as white 
as snow, and whose dress and mien pointed him out as evi- 
dently being a leading citizen of that community, in particular 
attracted cur attention as he walked back and forth along in 
front of us where we were standing and eating from the tables. 
He was not making a so-called speech, but he was talking. Pa- 
thetically he pleaded the cause of the Union while tears flowed 
freely down his wrinkled cheek. We were deeply touched by 
the tenderness of his appeal, by his venerable appearance and 
evident sincerity, but against all we were as obdurate as flint. 

About dark we proceeded down the river, now at its lowest 
water-mark. At Cairo we were met by several boat-loads of 

(94) 



Island No. Ten Campaign, and Prison Life, 1862. 47 

prisoners, and under escort of the Essex and Conestoga set out 
for Vicksburg. (Our progress was slow owing to the sand- 
bars and large fleet, and being under flag of truce, we could not 
travel at night. We viewed with interest Rucker's battery, 
the east bank, and Island No. 10 as we passed, which now from 
low water appeared to be upon a bluff fifty feet high. We an- 
chored at Memphis two days. While here the ladies of the 
town secured a little steam tug, and, crowding intO' it as long as 
one could stand on its deck, came out to our boat, bringing to- 
bacco and eatables and showering us with kisses — thrown from 
the hand. As they approached our transport the prisoners nat- 
urally made a rush to the side nearest the tug, causing 
the boat to careen very much. The commander of the boat 
ordered the prisoners back to the other side. They refused to 
obey. He then threatened to order the Essex to fire into the 
tug, if we persisted in disobedience. Being plainly told what 
might happen to him in that case, the incident ended. While 
here we viewed the battle ground of our Arkansas Ram with the 
Federal fleet a few months previous, and the wreck of Federal 
gunboats by the Ram. 

On the morning of September 21, 1862, we anchored in sight 
of Vicksburg. How we realized the goodness of God to us ! 
How sad the reflection that so many of our comrades were left 
dead at Island No. 10, and at the various prisons of the North, 
and some even upon the banks of the river along our route from 
Alton. 

The next day we bade our respected guard adieu, shaking 
hands with each, and assuring them of our appreciation of our 
kind treatment. They replied : "Now if you Johnnies ever 
capture us, all w^e ask is that you treat us as well as we have 
you." And we certainly should have done so. Landing on 
the west side of the river about a mile above Vicksburg, we 
marched down the river and crossed over on a ferry boat. 

It has doubtless fallen to my happy lot to chronicle here the 
time and place Confederate prisoners were treated with more 
humanity than elsewhere, or at any other time during the war. 

At the Vicksburg landing the ladies were serving free lunch 
of com bread and barbecued beef from cnide tables erected on 
the banks of the river, and here we spent a happy hour greeting 
officers and comrades from other prisons who had been ex- 
changed at the same time at A'^icksburg. 

(95) 



CHAPTER III. 



PORT HUDSON CAMPAIGN, 1862-1863. 



ORDERED TO PORT HUDSON, AND CAMPAIGN THERE. 

We were ordered to^ Port Hudson, La., but halted a few 
days in camp near Jackson, Miss. Before leaving Jackson 
officers were sent to Alabama to recruit the companies 
to full ranks if possible. P'rom Jackson we went by rail to 
Tangipahoa, La., thence by march of thirty miles across the 
country to Clinton, La. ; thence over a narrow-gauge railroad 
to Port Hudson, reaching the latter place October 4, 1862. The 
next day the regiment pitched camp about 100 yards above the 
landing on a high bank, affording a fine view of the river above 
and below, and of sugar-cane plantations across the river in 
front. Port Hudson, thirty miles above Baton Rouge, was at 
this time a military position of importance for two reasons : 1st. 
As an outpost defense to Vicksburg, by keeping back from 
Vicksburg Banks' army of 40,000 men; 2nd. Because this po- 
sition commanded the mouth of Red river, by w^hich the Con- 
federacy obtained supplies from Western Louisiana, Texas, 
and Southern Arkansas. 

Those of our comrades not captured at Island No. 10, and 
who had been organized into a battalion of three companies, 
aggregating 162 men, commanded by Capt. R. H. Isbell, re- 
joined us a month later. During our imprisonment this battal- 
ion had rendered valuable service in Northern Mississippi, hav- 
ing participated in the battle of Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3 and 4, 
1862. 

Maj.-Gen. Frank Gardner was commanding the post; Brig.- 
Gen. W. N. R. Beall, a brigade ; Col. W. R. Miles, his legion, 
the total being about 5,500 men. Our regiment was assigned 
to Boall's brigade. 

The river defenses, when completed, consisted of eleven bat- 
teries mounting a total of thirty guns, varying in calibre from 

(96) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 49 

a four-inch Parrott to ten-inch Cokimbiad, and extending about 
one and one-half miles along the east bank of the river from 
the heights below Big Sandy creek to a bayou below. The 
batteries, numbered from the upper extremity, were manned 
by the First Alabama, and DeGournay's battalion of artillery. 
The batteries of our regiment were : 

Battery No. i, Co. K, had one 20-pounder and one 30- 
pounder. 

Battery No. 2, Co. A, had two 32-pounders. 

Battery No. 3, Co. G, had one 42-pounder, and one 32- 
pounder. 

Battery No. 5, Co. B, had one 128-pounder, and one 32- 
pounder. 

The land defenses, when completed, consisted of a line of 
breastworks and batteries four miles long, somewhat in the 
form of a semi-circle connecting the upper and lower extremity 
of the river line of defenses. The semi-circle thus enclosed was 
a plateau rising abruptly to a height of eighty feet above low 
water-mark of the river, gashed here and there by yawning 
chasms and fringed on the north and south with deep ravines. 
A space of half a mile on each side of the railroad was an old 
field comparatively level, and strongly fortified. Distributed 
along this line were thirty-three batteries and redans numbered 
from left to right. 

Very few of these batteries and fortifications had any exist- 
ence, except on paper, when we reached Port Hudson, and 
some were never completed. 

The regiment was armed with old flint-lock muskets. 

An election held for lieutenant-colonel in October resulted 
in the election of Capt. M. B. Locke of the Perote Guards, a 
position he ever honored by his superior ability as an officer, 
by his dignity, his refined Christian character and uniform 
courtesy to subordinates. To this time since its reorganization, 
the regiment had been without a lieutenant-colonel. 

As to the number of men and officers on the muster rolls of 
the regiment when it reached Port Hudson, and consequently 
its loss at Island No. 10, and in prison, I find different authori- 
ties widely at variance. But after careful examination and 
comparison we are bound to accept the official report of Gen. 
4 

(97) 



50 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

Beall, Oct. 22, 1862, just eighteen days after our arrival, as the 
most trustworthy basis. He reports 312 effective men.* To 
this add 50 officers and we have 362 ; allowing 20 per cent, at 
hospital, and on furlough, we have 455 ; to which adding Is- 
bell's battalion of 162, we have 617. Col. I. G. W. Steedman, 
in a letter dated May, 1902, to the writer, says : "We left Bar- 
rancas, Fla., March 5, 1862, with not less than 1,000 men," If 
he includes Capt. Whitfield's company, which joined us a week 
later at Island No. 10, the total loss for this seven months is 
1,000 less 617, or 383 men. If Whitfield's company (about 50 
men) was not included, the loss was 1,050, less 617, or 423 
men. The latter is more probably correct. Appalling as these 
figures are, they cannot be excessive. Brewerf puts the total 
loss at 150 — figures absurdly incorrect when it is a certain 
fact that 104 of our regiment's dead are buried at the single 
prison of Madison, Wis., saying nothing of our heavy losses at 
Island No. 10, Camp Butler, Camp Douglas, Camp Chase, and 
other prisons, and the loss of Isbell's battalion during the inter- 
im. Further, subsequent official reports corroborate our esti- 
mate. Between Oct. 4, 1862, and the investment of Port Hud- 
son, May 24, 1863, the regiment received over 200 recruits, 
Co. K receiving in one squad 45$. A letter to Capt. J. P. Jones, 
July 5, 1863, from Port Hudson (just three days before the 
surrender), says: "First Alabama 585 strong." After the 
losses at Port Hudson and recruiting fall of 1863, Lieut. -Gen. 
Polk reports the regiment 745 strong at Meridian, Miss. 

Companies A, B, G and K at once began the construction of 
their batteries on the river. The ground was hard, and progress 
slow and laborious, but by Feb. i. 1863, nearly al\ the gun., 
were in position. The men were daily practiced in the drill 
of the squad, company, battalion ; and, after completion of bat- 
teries, the artillery also. The three new companies of the regi- 
ment and the many recruits to the seven old companies had no 
experience in any kind of drill, and these together constituted 
at least two-thirds of the regiment ; but by the superior tact and 
industry of Col. Steedman, and. our . j.<..jatant, Capt. S. D 
Steedman, a recent graduate of the South Carolina Mil- 

*Confederate Military History, vol. vii, p. 53. 
^History of Alabama, p. 589. 
^Smith's Company K, p. 46. 

(98) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 51 

itary Academy, assisted by our veteran officers just ex- 
changed, the regiment was soon thoroughly drilled and dis- 
ciplined. It was recognized as the crack regiment of the Port 
Hudson army. One of the proofs that our regiment was held 
in the highest esteem was that the commanding general always 
called upon the First Alabama for important details of men and 
officers to execute special orders. Louisiana rum was the pe- 
culiar bane of the Port Hudson Army. The sugar planters, 
being unable to sell their sugar, converted it into this accursed 
liquid. Details from our regiment were sent out to destroy 
these distilleries. We were also placed as police guards on all 
roads leading to distilleries, and ordered to seize and confiscate 
the rum being brought into our lines. Many gallons were cap- 
tured every night and brought to our guardhouse and poured 
out on the ground. Our old comrades will remember how the 
thirsty men would dip it up in cups, or drink it out of the ditches 
until driven off by the guards. 

Our daily rations were "blue beef" and "com bread," to which 
were occasionally added sweet potatoes and syrup. The ladies 
of Mobile presented each; member of the regiment with a full 
suit of clothes, including overcoats and blankets ; comfortable 
log cabins were erected for winter quarters ; and the regiment 
was ini fine health and spirits. Corn beer, of which every com- 
pany had one or more stands, was our luxury. Diversions were 
.sought in various ways by the men, but chiefly through "kan- 
garoo courts." Cases were worked up during the day, a jury 
impaneled that night, an indictment found, the case argued by 
our lawyers, and the penalty of treating the crowd to beer im- 
posed by the court on the unsuccessful party to the suit. The 
men also published (wrote) a daily newspaper called "The 
Mule." It dealt mainly in satire of men and officers on drill, 
and was replied to by a counter newspaper called "Woodchuck." 

In a different way, our officers, mostly single, and a hand- 
some set, too, had their pastimes. There were many large 
sugar planters in this section, and their beautiful and accom- 
plished daughters in fine carriages and attended by retinues of 
servants made frequent visits to our camps "to see the soldiers." 
Well, they saw the soldiers, and our officers saw them, the re- 
sult being that our officers made frequent visits to the palatial 
homes of these young ladies, attending balls, banquets, and other 
entertainments. But the company officers, having no horses 

(99) 



52 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

and the distance to these homes being- too great to walk, had to 
leave the monopoly of all these pleasures to the staff. 
If there was anything on earth that a Southern woman, during 
these days, could not resist it was a Confederate soldier with 
brass bars and stars on his coat collar. There was some fasci- 
nation even in a corporal's stripes. 

In November, Col. Steedman hired a brass band of ten musi- 
cians, commanded by a Capt. O'Neal, the officers of the regi- 
ment by voluntary assessment paying the band. For profi- 
ciency it certainly had no superior if an equal in the Confeder- 
ate service. Their instruments, too, were first-class. They 
played for us on drill and at night after taps took their position 
at the Colonel's tent and played us to sleep. We also had many 
superior fiddlers, Jack Gibson, of the Perote Guards, being 
the most skillful. Once a week, or oftener, and just after sup- 
per, he would open up a free concert in his tent. The first 
stroke of his bow never failed to be cheered enthusiastically by 
the regiment. After playing an hour or two he invariably 
closed with "O Lord Gals one Friday," which he would play, 
sing and dance at the same time. He was afterwards wounded 
(July 28, '64, at Atlanta) in the right arm just above the wrist, 
resulting in a permanent deflection of the arm at that point ; and 
being asked whether he could still use the bow replied : "Why, 
yes ; my arm now has exactly the right crook for the business." 

Vast quantities of bacon, cattle, sugar and syrup were shipped 
through Port Hudson to the interior of the Confederacy. The 
cattle were made to swim across the river in full view of our 
batteries. No bacon and only a few of the poorest cattle were 
left for our garrison. 

On November 16, 1862, the Federal fleet under Commodore 
D. G. Farragut appeared below in sight of our batteries. It 
was composed of the following vessels : 

Wooden — Richmond, carrying 27 guns ; Hartford, 26 guns ; 
Mississippi, 23 guns; ]\Ionongahela, 16 guns. 

Iron-clad — Kineo, carr\-ing five guns ; Albatross, 5 guns ; 
Sachem, 5 guns; Genesee, 5 guns; Essex, 16 guns. 

Mortar Boats — Also five mortar boats each carrying one 13- 
inch mortar. Total, 138 guns and five 13-inch mortars. 

On the night of December 13, Capt. Boone's battery of light 
artillery, consisting of three pieces and supported by Companies 

(100) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 53 

D and F of the First Alabama crossed the river, and gaining 
a position opposite the fleet and behind the levee without being 
discovered, opened fire at dawn. A spirited duel was kept up 
nearly all day, but without material results. 

In Januar}', 1863, the "Dr. Beatty," a large Red river trans- 
port, protected by cotton bales, carrying one 20-pound!er parrott 
gun and about 500 infantry, left our landing and steamed up the 
river, flying a large Confederate flag. The Parrott gun was 
in charge of Lieut. J. Watts Kearney, and the whole expedition, 
under command of Maj. J. L. Brand. The Dr. Beatty, the 
Rams Webb, Queen of the West, and another cotton-protected 
steamboat constituted the famous expedition. Fully three 
thousand Confederates had assembled on the banks of the river 
to witness the dteparture, and the deafening acclamations of 
these and those on board marked this as one of the most mem- 
orable incidents of Port Hudson. The avowed purpose was 
the capture of the Indianola which had passed the Vicksburg 
batteries, and one of the most powerful river gunboats in the 
Federal Navy. How this improvised fleet performed this dar- 
ing exploit in capturing the Indianola is one of the immortal 
achievements of the Confederate soldier and sailor. 

FARRAGUT's attack on port HUDSON. 

On the night of March 14, 1863, "taps" had sounded and we 
had retired for the night whien about 11 p. m. the discharge of 
several guns from below roused us from our bunks. Farra- 
gut's fleet was coming up. The long roll and the shrill shouts 
of officers, "fall in, men! fall in!" dinned our ears as we hur- 
riedly rushed into our clothes, then into ranks, and then to our 
batteries. By this time the firing of the batteries below was 
tremendous, the fleet making no reply. The flagship Hart- 
ford, with its consort Kineo, and with Commodore Farragut 
and son lashed to the mast were leading the way. Following 
these in succession were the Richmond, Monongahela, Gene- 
see and Mississippi, each, except the last, with an iron-clad con- 
sort. These were followed by the Essex and Sachem. The 
large heaps of lightwood knots on the opposite bank of the 
river prepared for exactly this kind of an emergency, were not 
lighted as ordered. Only starlight dimly revealed an outline 
of the advancing squadron. Battery after battery opened fire 

(101) 



54 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

as the fleet came within range. The batteries of the First 
Alabama regiment being vippermost were the last to become 
engaged, and the Federal gunboats opened fire about the same 
time. The scene now became one of indescribable grandeur. 
The river and our line of fortifications looked like a solid sheet 
of electric glare and flame. The deafening roar drowned the 
command of officers. Gunners and squads no longer awaited 
command, but loaded and fired as rapidly as possible. The 
mortar boats below having previously gained the range of our 
position, poured upon us a shower of bursting shells. Within 
half an hour the Hartford and consort had passed up without 
material damage; the Richmond, quitting the channel opposite 
battery 5, steamed directly toward the landing which was be- 
tween batteries 5 and 3 under the gims of the First Alabama 
regiment. Our first impression was that she intended to dis- 
embark troops for a land attack, and all began to think of our 
muskets. She came within a few rods of the landing in full 
and close range of all four of the regiment's batteries and was 
several times struck. Her intention was to get close under the 
bluff of the river where, as she supposed, our guns could not 
bear upon her. But in this she was mistaken, for while her 
proximity did throw her out of range of most of our guns, the 
few that could bear upon her were all the more effective from 
being in such close quarters and in better view. Her sailors, 
thinking themselves safe, jeered the men of the First Alabama 
as the ship pulled up to the landing. At this juncture a large 
pile of lightwood knots down at the wharf was ignited by Con- 
federates, but being between us and our enemy and therefore 
blinding to us was quickly extinguished. This position soon 
proved too hot for the Richmond. Within five minutes her 
machinery had been disabled as indicated by the shrill distress- 
ing hiss of steam. She hobbled out from the bank bearing up 
the river, and then back toward the channel in a curved line, 
and then drifted in a disabled and almost helpless condition 
down the river. 

The Monongahela and Genesee following also diverged 
from the channel of the river toward our position, but were 
so quickly and seriously disabled that they retreated down the 
river as rapidly as their crippled condition would permit. 

The Essex escaped with slight damage, and the Sachem never 
reached the range of the guns of the First Alabama regiment. 

(102) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 55 

The gunboat Mississippi was struck in the forward part by 
a hot shot from a Confederate battery as she entered the bat- 
tic, but her intrepid commander pushed vigorously into the fight 
with his ship afire in front, until reaching a position in front of 
our regiment she was grounded on the west side of the river 
perhaps one hundred yards from the bank. Seeing the impos- 
sibility of saving the vessel he fired her in the after part and 
abandoned her. The flames spread rapidly and she was soon 
enveloped. Fifteen minutes later she broke loose from the 
bank and went floating down the river a huge and roaring pyr- 
amid of flames, the towering- vertex now bending before an occa- 
sional breeze, and then when there was a lull darting vertically 
upward and hurling skyward a continuous stream of angry 
sparks and firebrands. Her hundreds of loaded shells were 
soon reached by the fire, and the rapid explosion of these, some- 
times singly in quick succession, at other times a dozen or more 
simultaneously sounded like a heavy cannonade and equaling 
if not surpassing in every element oif the sublime, the terrific 
battle through which we had just passed. The firing had all 
ceased, and we had nothing to do but sit upon our batteries 
and enjoy the thoughts of our triumph and the grand spectacle 
before us. We thought of and pitied the woumded, if any there 
were, on the burning ship. The fleet below fled ini consterna- 
tion from their late companion and disappeared from view. 
About 5 a. m. this floating volcano rounded a point of land on 
the opposite bank five miles below and the flames sank out of 
view, but we gazed with unabated interest on the crimsoned 
horizon beyond. This gradually grew paler and paler until 
about 5 a. m., when there was a fearful explosion resembling 
in report that of a heavy peal of thunder in the distance, the 
flames leaped high above intervening lands and forests, the 
shock being distinctly felt at our batteries ; and what remained 
of the old historic Mississippi sank to the bottom of the river. 

Tiad the lightwood knots on the opposite shore been promptly 
lighted it is believ/ed that no vessel could have passed our bat- 
teries. A singular coincidence is that the Confederate ram 
Arkansas, co-operating with Gen. John C. Breckinridge in a 
land attack on Baton Rouge about a year previous, had gone 
down at almost the same spot. 

Several of the Mississippi's crew were killed and probably 
burned with the vessel. Seme of the wounded leaped into the 

(103) 



56 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

river and were drowned ; about forty men were captured, the 
rest escaped, among- them being the executive ofificer, Lieut. 
George Dewey, later the distinguished "hero of Manila." 

The captain's gig taken from the Mississippi fell to the lot 
of Col. Steedman, and furnished him and his officers much sport 
"when off duty. 

As to the origin of the fire on the steamship Mississippi, and 
as to which ship it was that came up so close under our batter- 
ies, .several theories were at the time advanced, and have since 
been contended for. 

Anxious to have the question definitely and correctly settled, 
I addressed a letter to Admiral George Dewey May 29, 1903, 
propounding the following questions : ( i ) Was it the Rich- 
mond or Mississippi that came up so close to the landing on 
the night of March 14, 1863, at Port Hudson? (2) Was the 
steamship Mississippi fired by a hot shot from a Confederate 
battery, or fired by its executive officer? 

The following reply from the distinguished Admiral settles 
the question that it was not the Mississippi that steamed up so 
close to the landing that night, and could he have spoken as 
definitely as to which one it was that did come so close his state- 
ment would have been final. It is seen that he inclines to the 
opinion that it was the Hartford instead of Richmond, but of 
this he is not certain. Not undervaluing the weight of even an 
indefinite impression of so distinguished a man who was a par- 
ticipant in the battle, I have, after mature consideration, and 
not without hesitation, felt it my duty to follow the almost unan- 
imoiis opinion of authors, that it was the Richmond, until fur- 
ther light shall establish it as an error. 

Admiral Dewey's letter is as follows : 

"Navy Department. 
"Office of the Admiral of the Navy, 
"Mills Building, Washington, June 1, 1903. 

"My Dear Sir: I have the pleasure to acknowledge the receipt 
of your letter of May 29, relative to the battle of Port Hudson, and 
will gladly give you such information as I can in response to your 
inquiries. 

"I was the executive officer of the 'Mississippi' in the battle 
named, and it was not that vessel of which you speak as steaming 

(104) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 57 

up nearly to the landing, as we were on the other side of the river, 
and grounded; nor do I think it was the 'Richmond.' My impres- 
sion is that it was the 'Hartford,' which ran in so close to the land- 
ing, though I am not positive on the matter. 

"The 'Mississippi' was first fired, in the forward part, by a hot 
shot from one of the Confederate batteries; afterward, finding that 
she could not be floated and saved, we fired her in the after part 
and abandoned her. 

"I hope that you and I may sometime come into close range 
again, but under different circumstances from those of that me- 
morable 14th of March. Very truly yours, 

"George Dewey. 
"Professor E. Y. McMorries, 
"Plantersville, Ala." 

The object of getting these ships above us was to cut off 
supplies west of the river from the Confederacy, and to en- 
able Gen. N. P. Banks, then descendmg Red river valley 
with 20,000 men, to cross the river at Bayou Sara, six miles 
above Port Hudson. 

Affairs now relapsed into their former status, the fleet daily 
shelling our lines with slow guns in a desultory way. An Arm- 
strong rifle-gun on the fleet amused itself by throwing 250- 
poumcl) shells into our upper batteries, and sometimes even into 
Sandy creek swamp, half a mile above our lines — an extraor- 
dinary- range at that time, being about five miles. 

On the night of May 9, Col. Paul F. DeGournay with a de- 
tachment of artillery, and Co. K of our regiment, having in all 
four guns, intrenched under cover of darkness at Troth's land-* 
ing opposite the fleet, and early next morning opened fire upon 
the Essex. The whole fleet, mortar boats and all, joined the 
Essex in her reply. The battle was furious and against fearful 
odds until i p. m., when our men withdrew, Co. K's gun having 
been disabled. 

May 14, 1863, Gen. C. C. Augur, commanding a Federal 
force of 10,000 men at Baton Rouge, threw out an advance line 
of skirmishers toward Port Hudson, and encountered our cav- 
alry pickets in a light skirmish at Plains' store, about six miles 
below Port Hudson. The aggressive activity of Federal cav- 
alry on both sides of the river. Gen. Augur now advancing from 
Baton Rouge, Banks crossing the river at Bayou Sara, left 

(105) 



68 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

no doubt that Port Hudson was to be invested. The effective 
force at Port Hudson never exceeded 3.300 men. The Confed- 
erates were in high spirits, having not the least doubt of their 
ability to hold the position against any odds. 

May 19 a detachment of our regiment crossed the river and 
without loss, severely chastised a body of marauding Federal 
cavalry, the latter leaving several dead and wounded on the field. 
The fighting down the Plains' Store road vvasS daily getting 
nearer and heavier, showing that Gen. Augur was gradually 
forcing back our line, artiller}- being brought into action on the 
iQtht and 20th. 

While we were at our batteries interested listeners to the 
battle several miles away, Gen. Frank Gardner, our Major- 
General commandling, unattended (as usual) by any member 
of his staff, his ruddy face animated and his eyes aglow, show- 
ing that the lion in him was aroused, rode up to our battery and 
asked: "Are you all ready here?" Being assured that we 
were, he pointed in the direction of the firing and said : 
"The enemy are coming, but mark you, many a one will get 
to h — 1 before he does to Port Hudson" — words that proved 
prophetic if he meant that many would be killed in battle. 

On May 22 Gen. Banks began his advance from Bayou Sara 
upon our position. Our pickets met his advance in the Aberger 
plantation beyond Big Sandy creek and drove them back. On 
May 23 the skirmishing was resumed and kept up all day in 
the same position. That night our cavalry, reinforced by a 
detachment of infantn^ intrenched in rifle pits in the skirt of 
woods between Big Sandy creek and the plantation. The next 
day the enemy advanced upon us in a heavy skirmish line that 
was promptly repulsed. This heavy picket fighting, occasion- 
ally approaching a heavy battle, was kept up all day, the Con- 
federates holding their position. That night our infantry fell 
back to our rifle pits south of Big Sandy creek. In the mean- 
while Col. Miles had been doing some hard fighting on the right 
with Augur, and on the 24th a portion of Beall's brigade was 
likewise engaged. The investment of Port Hudson was now 
complete, and the enemy's forces less than half a mile from us. 
The; position of the regiment on the morning of the 25th was in 
the swamp about one hundred yards south of Big Sandy. 
There was much large timber, but very little undergrowth. 
Where rifle pits were wanting breastworks of logs were hastily 

(106) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 59 

constructed. A light skirmish line was thrown forward to the 
creek to impede the enemy in crossing, and soon a brisk fight 
was on. The enemy, with a strong force, drove in' our pickets, 
and charged our position. He was driven back with loss. The 
enemy fleeing, our skirmish lines pursued and drove them back 
across the creek. They rallied, reinforced and again drove in 
our pickets, charged andl were repulsed. Several times this 
was repeated during the day. In the evening, just after one of 
these charges and repulses, a Federal lieutenant was wounded 
and captured. As he was being carried back through our lines 
en a litter dripping blood, he raised himself up and abused us 
without stint, adding that the Federals would have Port Hudson 
in twenty-four hours. He was quite a handsome young man, 
and our men applauded him for his pluck, but assured him that 
he was mistaken in judgment. After the last charge and re- 
pulse of the enemy nearly sinidown that evening, our pursuing 
skirmishers, commanded by Capt. Knowles, not only drove 
them back across Big Sandy creek, but crossed themselves where 
Capt. Knowles captured and brought back a very fine horse as 
a trophy, of which he was very proud. 

Col. SteedHnan having been put in commarui of the left wing, 
composed of the First Alabama, 15th Arkansas and loth Ar- 
kansas, a detachment of Wingfield's battalion and 39th Mis- 
sissippi regiment, Lieut. -Col. M. B. Locke commanded the reg- 
iment from this time to the end of the siege. Col. Steedman, 
during the siege, won the highest encomiums from his men and 
superiors, and would have received a brigadier-general's com- 
mission soon afterwards had he not been captured and sent to 
prison ; while Col. Locke proved himself a brave and able reg- 
imental commander. 

About sundown the regiment fell back to the heights about 
a quarter of a mile from our line of fortifications, had stacked 
arms and were lying about promiscuously on the ground, when 
Col. Steedman rode up, having received an order from Gen. 
Gardner to advance and "feel" for the enemy, and in a loud 
tone commanded Col. Locke to take the First Alabama regi- 
ment and go forward until he struck the enemy. The evening 
twilight had just faded from the western horizon, and a full 
moon was mounting the eastern sky as the regiment descended 
the bluff into the deep swamp canopied high above with the 
luxuriant foliage of a giant forest. The enemy's pickets, per- 
ceiving our advance, had ceased firing, and ensconced behind 

(107) 



60 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

trees were silently awaiting our approach. Our way led through 
a clearing of deadened timbers and over ground densely cov- 
ered with shrubbery, brush, briars and logs. Through this 
tangled copse we made our way the best we could in various 
squads. A slough of thick underbrush formed the farther mar- 
gin of this clearing, and when we were within a few yards of it, 
"the enemy lighted up his lurking places with a blaze of musketry. 
Exposed to a hidden foe we returned the fire until ordered to 
fall back, carrying with us our dead and wounded. We had 
"felt" the enemy. During the night battle a minie rifle ball 
cut out the letter "C" from the hilt of Col. Steedman's sword, 
leaving the letter "S" — destroying the Confederacy, but leav- 
ing the States. The sword is still in his possession (1904). 
Lieut.-Col. Locke wore the sword that night by mistake. The 
vital importance of the delay thus secured by these days of 
fighting in advance of our main line of defense, will be better 
understood by adding here an extract from Col. Steedman's 
ofificial report of the siege of Port Hudson. Had not these rifle 
pits been constructed, the enemy would have entered Port Hud- 
son May 27, 1863. 

Extract from col. steedman's official report of the siege. 

"The enemy's demonstrations on this day convinced me be- 
yond a doubt that he had determined to attack our lines in the 
vicinity of our commissary depot, arsenal, etc. Up to Monday 
night, the 25th of May, no works of any description had been 
thrown up to defend this position, extending from Col. John- 
son's advanced work, on the right of my command to a point 
within five hundred yards of the river on the left, including a 
space of three-fourths of a mile. There was not a rifle pit dug 
nor a gun mounted on Monday night. 

"I reported my convictions to the Major-General command- 
ing. The evidence was satisfactory^ to him, and he ordered all 
the available tools, negroes, etc., to be placed at the disposal of 
the Chief Engineer. The work was promptly laid out by Lieut. 
Dabney and' ere the dawm of Tuesday, considerable progress had 
been made. A batter>' of four pieces had been mounted during 
the night on the hill in the immediate vicinity of the commis- 
sary depot which, since that, has been called Commissary Hill. 
The emergency being great, this work was pressed with energy 

(108) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 61 

all Tuesday and Tuesday night, so that by Wednesday morning 
an imperfect line of rifle pits had been thrown up to protect the 
most exposed points on the left wing." 

During the night of May 26 the entire Confederate army took 
position along our line of breastworks, where we remained dur- 
ing the period of forty-nine days of siege that followed. Port 
Hudson was not provisioned for a siege. Gen. Gardner had 
received orders to evacuate it, but the rapid approach of Gen. 
Banks prevented its execution. 

The position of the command and the assignment of com- 
manders for the seige were as follows: Maj.-Gen. Franklin 
Gardner, commanding all the Confederate forces; Col. I. G. W. 
Steedman, acting brigadier-general, commanding the left wing; 
Brig.-Gen. W. N. R. Beall, commanding the center; Col. W. 
R. Miles, commanding the right wing. 

Beginning at the extreme left and giving in the order in 
which they occur, the left wing was composed of the following 
regiments, and in the order named : The 39th Mississippi, a 
detachment of Col. Wingfield's dismounted cavalry, loth Ar- 
kansas, 1st Alabama, and 15th Arkansas regiments; the center, 
of the 23d Arkansas, i6th Arkansas, ist Arkansas and 12th 
Arkansas ; the right wing, of DeGournay's battalion of artil- 
lery and Col. Miles' legion. 

The distribution of Confederate batteries numbered from left 
to right was as follows : On the left w"ing were batteries 3, 6, 
II (Fort Desperate), 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17; on the center, bat- 
teries 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25; on the right wing, bat- 
teries 26, 27, 28, 29, 33. Missing numbers indicate batteries 
planned, but never constructed. On the left wing were no de- 
fenses except that the timbers for two hundred yards in front 
had been felled, the surface being so rugged that the skill of 
the engineer was hardly deemed necessary. The position of the 
First Alabama, about three-quarters of a mile from the extreme 
left, was between the loth Arkansas on its left, and the 15th 
Arkansas on its right. A ravine pierced the right of our regi- 
ment, separating Co. A and its batter}^ from the rest of the reg- 
iment. The length of the left wing was one and one-half miles 
long and defended by 1,600 effective men. This put the men 
along the line in single file about five feet apart. Our regiment 
never at any time had its full strength at the breastworks ; de- 
tachments from Companies A, B, G and K being kept at their 

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62 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

respective batteries, and two detachments from Co. K being 
assigned, one to a redan on the Jackson road, and the other to 
battery 1 1 on the river. 

During the siege several heavy gnns were transferred from 
the river batteries to the breastworks, wooden guns shaped and 
painted like cannon being substituted to deceive the enemy be- 
low. It is singular that the fleet made no serious effort to cap- 
ture any of our river batteries during the siege. 

Contrary to expectation, the enemy did not push his advance 
May 26, and this gave the regiment an opportunity to intrench. 
This delay of one day by Banks was a fatal mistake to him. 

Late in the evening of the 26th, Gen. Banks sent in to Gen. 
Gardner a formal demand for the surrender of Port Hudson. 
It was a lengthy document, written in that elegant style for 
which Gen. Banks was so noted. It set forth his ability to take 
Port Hudson at his will, but expressing earnest desire to save 
the unnecessary effusion of blood. To this Gen. Gardner re- 
plied briefly that his orders were to defend Port Hudson and 
that he should obey his orders. This formal demand of Gen. 
Banks and the laconic reply of Gen. Gardner were printed and 
distributed that night along the Confederate lines. So all knew 
that we were standing on the "perilous edge of battle." It was 
midnight when we were ordered to quit work and to sleep on 
our arms. The men, falling on the ground in the rear of the 
ditches, were soon in slumbers. The firing had ceased and the 
note of the whippoorwill in the ravine above us alone broke the 
stillness of the night. To the thoughtful it was an hour of se- 
rious reflection. To many it v/as the last sleep before that of 
their final rest. 

At early dawn of May 27 Banks opened a heavy cannonade 
upon our whole front, the fleet shelling the river batteries. Shot, 
grape, shrapnel were whizzing everywhere, tearing up our 
breastworks here, plowing up the ground there, crashing 
through the trees yonder amid terrific explosion of shells. 
About 120 pieces on land and nearly as many heavy pieces from 
the fleet had their fire concentrated upon us. This was main- 
tained an hour when there immediately issued from the woods 
in our front a long line of burnished steel and waving banners. 
This was followed by another line, and this by another. What 
a host advancing against a single line where the men stood five 
feet apart. Our arms were the old flint lock musket (but they 

(HO) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 63 

were a sure fire) not effective ov-er forty yards ; the enemy were 
armed with the powerful Enfield rifle. Our cartridge was a 
ball and three buckshot, a destructive missile at short range. 
Owing to the ruggedness of the ground and felled timbers, the 
enemy could not preserve their lines intact and soon became a 
conglomerate mass. We awaited their approach in silence. 
When within forty vards we were commanded to fire. A blaze 
of musketry flashed from our ramparts. The enemy was dazed 
and stunned by the suddenness of the blow and the fearful effect 
of our first volley. Over ome-fifth of his number were upon 
the ground dead or wounded. There was a momentary pause, 
and then rallying and raising a shout they charged. The Con- 
federates now loaded and fired as rapidly as possible. The 
enemy was falling thick and fast at eyery step of his slow ad- 
vance over brush, but still he bravely pressed on, firing as he 
came, until within a few feet of our lines and then — fled in utter 
panic and rout. As usual, the retreat was more disastrous 
than the advance, and the ground within range of our muskets 
was literally covered with blue-coats. Shouts of Confederates 
right and left, assured us of a general repulse along our whole 
front. Before the enemy's advance he had covered a ridge 
about fifty yards in front of our regiment with sharp-shooters, 
and these lay in perfect security and shot our men as they raised 
their heads and bodies above the breastworks to fire. These 
Yankee sharp-shooters inflicted the principal damage on our 
regiment, killing and wounding many more men than the 
charging columns. 

The stampeded Federals rallied under protection of the 
woods in front and charged again, and were again repulsed. 
This second charge was made about 10 a. m. After these, re- 
peated assaults were made during the day upon our position, but 
tlie enemy never reached as near our works or fought with as 
much courage as on the first charge. Late in the evening the 
firing ceased and our next thoughts were of our dead and 
wounded. The latter had been promptly removed to our field 
hospital in a ravine 200 yards in the rear, but litters were lean- 
ing here and there along our ramparts saturated with blood, and 
blood was running and puddling in the trenches. Col. Locke 
received a painful wound in the neck from a spent ball ; but, 
bandaging it with his pocket handkerchief stood bravely to his 

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64 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

post. The total loss of our regiment was 32 killed and 44 
wounded. 

During the fierce assault of May 27 on our whole left wing, 
Commissary Hill was an especial object of attack. Here we 
had a four-gun battery, and behind it were our commissary 
stores, arsenal and old gin-house containing the little grist mills 
which did all the grinding for the army. Our battery did great 
execution by destroying a number of field guns, but sharp- 
shooters hidden in the fallen timbers soon made our battery vm- 
tenable by shooting our gunners, compelling them to lie behind 
the parapet and await assault. Col. Steedman took his position 
in this battery. A ditch near the battery was enfiladed by 
sharp-shooters; the Colonel ordered the Adjutant, Capt. S. D. 
Steedman (who is the brother of Col. Steedman) to remove 
the men from this ditch ; in attempting to do so he was shot 
down by a rifle ball striking him over the heart. He was taken 
to the rear, supposedly mortally wounded, but late at night the 
Colonel and regiment were delighted to hear that the ball was 
deflected by a rib and came out at the back, and our adjutant 
was still living. He soon recovered from the wound and re- 
sumed duty. 

Our experience on the night of May 27 was new to us, and 
distressing. The piteovis cries of "water," "water," from hun- 
dreds of the enemy's wounded, and the groans of the dying now 
touch with deepest sympathy those with whom they had but to- 
day been locked in deadly strife. Several of our men took the 
risk and carried canteens of water to those nearest our lines. 
When these returned they reported plenty of Enfield rifles near 
our ramparts. Our men quickly supplied themselves, and after 
this each man kept two loaded guns, his Enfield for 'long taw," 
and flint and steel for close quarters. 

Early next morning Gen. Banks obtained a flag of truce for 
the burial of his dead and removal of his wounded. Col. Locke, 
by direction of Col. Steedman. met the flag. Several immense 
openings in the earth were made in front of our regiment each 
with a capacity of about 100 men. Into these the dead were 
piled and covered. A brigade of negroes had charged the 39th 
Mississippi on our left ; about half were killed outright on the 
field, and for the burial of these Gen. Banks never asked a flag 
of truce. They lay there in the hot sun and putrified and 
swelled until the stench became so unbearable to Col. Shelby of 

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Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 65 

the 39th Mississippi, that he asked Gen. Banks to allow him 
(Shelby) to bury' them. Gen. Banks replied that he had' no 
dead there. 

This ended the greatest battle of Port Hudson during the 
siege. It taught us that a few men with a determination to 
stay could hold a fortified position against great odds. 

The enemy began a series oif zig-zag approaches tO' our lines 
and soon had their breastworks within 75 yards of us. Both 
sides placed notched logs longitudinally on their breastworks, 
the notches being turned down and used as port-holes through 
which sharp shooting was plied vigorously from daylight to 
dark. Both Federal and Confederate sharp-shooters got the 
exact range of the opposite openings and could shoot through 
them every fire. Many of our men lost their lives at these po- 
sitions, and a Federal officer told the writer after the surren- 
der that twenty-three Federals had been killed through a single 
one during the siege. Another source of loss was carelessness. 
During a long siege men become accustomed to bullets and to 
a degree lose sense of danger. 

As an instance out of hundreds I give the circumstances of 
the untimely and tragic death of Newton Soles, a youth of 16, 
and naturally inclined to be a little thoughtless. The heat of 
the sun was so intense that we were permitted to erect, in rear 
of the breastworks what we called "shebangs." These were 
made by first driving down into the ground two small stakes 
three feet high and about seven feet apart and connected at the 
top by a ridge pole, across which a blanket was stretched. 
Then, at right angles to these stakes, and about three feet from 
each, four other stakes each about one foot high, were driven 
down to which each corner of the blanket was fastened. Two 
men could very well occupy a "shebang." On the day of his 
death Newt proposed to me to build one. This point 
of the line was on a hillside; and, in getting from the ditch to 
the bank in rear one had to be very careful not to let his head, 
or the least part thereof, show itself above the breastworks, be- 
cause it was almost certain death. As we ascended the bank 
I said to Newt : "Look out for your head there." He was on 
the upper side of the hill. We had just put up the two high 
stakes, the ridge pole, and had stretched the blanket, when I 
heard the thug of a bullet. Newt rolled into the ditch, dead. 
5 

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66 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

with the blood pouring from a woimd in his head. He never 
spoke afterwards. 

On the evening of June 13, Gen. Banks made another demand 
for surrender. But Gen. Gardner again courteously declined. 
Men and officers preferred to fight. 

The opening of the battle at dawn on the next moniing by 
Gen. Banks was very similar to that on May 27, but he had in 
position more artillery' and his infantry was nearer our lines. A 
furious cannonade was maintained about two hours. Their shot 
and shell frequently passed entirely over the Confederate semi- 
circle and fell among their own men on the opposite side. After 
this free-for-all entertainment, the enemy advanced to the assault 
in three double lines of battle. We used our Enfield rifles until 
within 30 or 40 yards, and then our old flint and steel muskets. 
Under a destructive fire from our men the enemy bravely ad- 
vanced until within twenty yards, and then fled in panic amid 
loud rebel yells along our whole lines. Again and again they 
reformed and charged, but never came as near as on the first 
charge. In fact, towards the last of the battle their officers 
could hardly get the Federals to leave their own breastworks. 
They were not cowards, but brave men. They saw no hope of 
storming our position successfully and were demoralized. Had 
it been simply a question of Bank's Army taking Port Hudson, 
the Confederate flag would have been floating over its ramparts 
today (T904), and forever after this. Again had their dead 
and v/o;mde(l covered our front. Sharp-shooters on that ridge 
again killed and wounded several of our regiment. Blood 
flowed freely along our trenches. 

This was the last general assault upon our position. The at- 
tacks made May 27 and June 14 are known' as the two great 
battles of Port Hudson. After this the two armies resumed 
sharp-shooting through portholes. Large green trees between 
us and the enemy were shot to death and into splinters with 
minie balls. The enemy, generally at night, made frequent 
sorties upon some points of our lines, but were promptly re- 
pulsed. They also occasionally annoyed us with hand grenades 
— diminutive bombs. For this the>' would select a dark night, 
and an hour when all except videttes were supposed to be 
asleep, creep stealthily as near as possible, then make a dash 
forward to our breastworks, toss the grenade into our trenches 
and run back to their ditches before we could be roused from 

(114) 



Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 67 

sleep and get into line. Several hundred of these little burst- 
ing bombs popping like so many big fire-crackers away in the 
night produced many laughable incidents among the boys. 
Though we never slept over ten steps froim our line, before we 
could be aroused and get into position the hand grenades were 
all burst, and the Yankees all gone. 

Col. Steedman, in a letter to the writer, dated July 2, 1902, 
relates the following incident of the siege of Port Hudson : 

"About the middle of the siege, the enemy attempted to make a 
sneak through our lines in the night. A picked command was 
formed, possibly a thousand men. They selected the slaughter pen 
route. This pen stood on a high bluff, deep ravines from the neigh- 
borhood running into Sandy creek. These ravines were filled with 
the offal of many hundred cattle. The attempt was made in a rain- 
storm. The men got separated and lost while bogging and flounder- 
ing in this awful putrid mess. They came straggling through our 
thin line, and were captured in detail. The greater number scram- 
bled back to their own lines. Those captured were hideous, stink- 
ing objects and glad to get a chance to wash up. 

"Had this picked command succeeded in getting through our 
lines in good order, and been followed up by reinforcement. Port 
Hudson might have been captured that night; but good luck and 
brave men saved it. This is written from memory, but is correct 
in essentials, my headquarters being within a few hundred yards 
of the spot." 

As the siege progressed sickness increased. We had no pro- 
tection from a burning sun, our food most unwholesome, and 
we were not permitted to take off accoutrements day or night. 
Since the middle of June we had nothing but corn bread and 
syrup and only a scanty supply of com. We hiad a few peas 
and these were ground wiUi corn for bread, but it produced so 
much sickness that the surgeon ordered its discontinuance. 
Green muscadines were cooked into preserves that tasted well, 
but also caused sickness. For some reason not a fish 
could be caught out of the river. There were several 
old mules in our lines in medium order, and Gen. Gardner had 
these slaughtered and issued to the men. Some of the boys also 
caught and cooked big rats. "How do mule and rat taste?" 
The writer did not get a chance at rats, though during the siege 
they were considered a delicacy. He tried mule meat, and' corn 

(115) 



68 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

bread shortened with mule grease. Famished as he was, his 
stomach rebelled against the latter. The fomier had a flavor 
somewhat like turkey, but it tasted like nothing else he knows 
except a mule. 

Those who used tobacco (as most did), suffered much from 
lack of it. Many kinds of bark and roots were substituted. 

THE SURRENDER OF PORT HUDSON. 

AH through the siege we cherished hope of relief through 
Gens. Joe Johnston and T. M. Logan. The latter, with a bri- 
gade of cavalry did attack Banks's rear in hearing of Port 
Hudson. Though we had no fears of the enemy, who was 
thoroughly whipped and demoralized already, yet having noth- 
ing to eat and being nearly out of ammunition, all foresaw our 
inevitable doom. But negotiations for surrender came earlier 
than anticipated, and from a source not expected. On the night 
of July 6, a hand grenade, to which was attached a message 
from Gen. Grant to Gen. Banks stating that Vicksburg had 
surrendered on July 4, 1863, was thrown by a Federal picket 
into our lines. This dispatch was immediately carried to Col. 
Steedman. He carried it to Gen. Gardner at headquarters. 
The result was a council of war immediately, in which it was 
determined to send a flag of truce to Gen. Banks next moming 
and ask whether this telegram were genuine and true. Gen. 
Banks replied upon his honor that it was true, and that one of 
Grant's army corps was already 00 the way to Port Hudson, 
and that another would follow next day. Commissioners to 
treat for surrender from both sides met under a tent-fly between 
the lines on the morning of July 7. Col. I. G. \V. Steedman, 
Col. W. N. Miles, and Col. M. J. Smith were the Confederate 
commissioners. The Feiderals demanded an immediate sur- 
render ; the Confederates, by every possible artifice, strove to 
postpone the surrender until the moming of the 8th. their ob- 
ject being to gain time by which Confederates might make 
their escape from Port Hudson during the night. A heavy rain 
and thunder storm luckily came up from the west late in the 
afternoon and thus gained us a night's delay before formal sur- 
render. 

By 9 a. m. on the moming of the 8th, white flags were flying 
all along the ramparts of friend and foe. \'icksburg had gone, 

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Port Hudson Campaign, 1862-63. 69 

Port Hudson must go! Our long struggle of seven weeks had 
been in vain ! So many of our comrades had died in vain ! No, 
not in vain, for our little band had held back forty thousand 
Federals from Vicksburg. Groups of Federals and Confeder- 
ates were soon together between the lines in conversation, and 
trading — a trade is always the first thought of a Yankee. We 
had syrup and sugar; they had bacon, crackers, coffee, and to- 
bacco, and trade ran briskly in these commodities. That even- 
ing we were ordered back to camps, followed by Banks's com- 
missary train that issued to us bountiful rations of beef, crack- 
ers, and other supplies. What a feast! But over it all hung 
the shadow of imprisonment. 

Next morning, July 9, we were ordered up in line of battle 
fronting Gens. Banks and Gardner, and grounded arms. The 
ceremony of surrender was over, and we were prisoners. Gen. 
Banks addressed us in a brief speech, commending most highly 
our heroic defense of Port Hudson, and closed by saying that 
brave men could always be trusted, and that every private and 
non-commissioned officer should be released on parole. This 
announcement was received with joy, but mixed with regret 
that a hard fate awaited our faithful officers. For this mag- 
nanimous act the Port Hudson prisoners were ever grateful ; 
and it was an act of magnanimity, pure and simple, and not of 
motives. Gen. Banks so assured the writer in a private letter 
written in 1878. 

THE MARCH TO SHUBUTA AND HOME TO ALABAMA. 

The work of paroling began July 11, and was completed July 
14, 1863. During this time several of our sick died at our hos- 
pital, and several of our officers, among them Maj. S. L. Knox, 
obtained paroles given to these dead privates, donned a pri- 
vate's uniform, and passed out of the Yankee lines without 
being detected. A few of the officers, after perilous adventure 
and much suffering from hunger and thirst, effected their es- 
cape through the enemy's pickets. 

Receiving our paroles, we passed through the enemy's lines 
at our breastworks on the Clinton road, camping that night 
about ten miles from Clinton. Here several of our officers 
who liad made their escape, rejoined us. We gave them an 
ovation. The citizens along the way out to Tangipahoa on the 

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70 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

line of Mississippi and Louisiana were exceedingly kind and 
generous. These Louisianians were a princely people, and in- 
tensely loyal to the South. At many points along the road free 
lunch stands had been erected where the soldiers were served 
by the white ladies and negroes. Many of these young Creole 
women were beautiful ; so that while we satisfied the cravings 
of hunger, we feasted our eyes. To the women of the Confed- 
eracy there were no strangers in the Southern army; all were 
brothers. Men, women and all would say : "Our roasting ears 
are ripe ; plenty of watermelons in the fields ; if we have any- 
thing you need, take it ; nothing we have is too good for you ; 
it all belongs to you while you are with us. We appreciate 
your services to our State at Port Hudson." 

The railroads being torn up, we had to walk from Port Hud- 
son to Shubuta, Miss., on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, a dis- 
tance of i8o miles. Of this, 120 miles lay across the entire 
State of Mississippi, which required a week's travel, and where 
we had much difficulty in getting food and shelter ; and never 
without pay. They would not even haul our sick a few miles 
without compensation. But perhaps our treaitment was what 
might have been expected, as we have since been informed, the 
poor piney woods Mississippi counties we marched through 
were filled with a very large element, notoriously disloyal to 
the Confederacy. Jones, one of these counties, was so intense- 
ly Union in sentiment, that it is said at some time during the 
war to have passed an ordinance, seceding from the Confeder- 
acy. 

We went by as direct a route as possible to Shubuta, where 
we took the cars, reaching home during the last days of July. 
Here we remained two and one-half months, enjoying a much- 
needed rest, bounteous rations, and social gatherings. 

Officers were sent to prison and held to the close of the war. 



(US) 



CHAPTER IV. 



MERIDIAN, MOBILE, AND GEORGIA CAMPAIGNS. 



REGIMENT REASSEMBLED. 

October 12, 1863, the regiment, Maj. S. L. Knox command- 
ing, was ordered to Cahaba, Ala., and went into parole camps 
on a high hill two or three miles west of the town. We had not 
been exchanged in accordance with the terms of our paroles, 
and an effort by our officers to put us on duty im violation of 
our paroles was bitterly resented by almost every member O'f the 
regiment. By the terms of our parole, wie were to perform no 
kind of military service or duty until regularly exchanged ac- 
cording to the provisions of the cartel of exchange. We had 
not been so exchanged, nor were we afterwards. The commis- 
ioners of exchange had annulled this cartel, simply "declar- 
ing all paroled prisoners exchanged." 

However, our officers having satisfactorily explained the 
situation in reference to exchange, we entered upon duty. We 
always doubted, and still, doubt, the legality of our exchange, 
and had we been recaptured might have been severely dealt 
with. 

On Nov. 9, the regiment left Cahaba for Meridian, Miss., 
spending the night in an old cotton warehouse in Selma. As 
the regiment marched from the warehouse next morning 
throiugh the streets to the depot, the eflfects of whiskey were 
much in evidence. Reaching Meridian Nov. 10, we at once set 
about erecting log cabins for winter quarters. A detachment 
of the regiment guarded railroad bridges below, the rest fur- 
nished daily guards for all outgoing and incoming trains. We 
were in fine health and spirits, had full rations and comfortable 
clothes, drew several months' pay, investing it all in "bone 
dried goobers" at $50 a bushel, and "potato pones" at $1 a pone. 

During the Christmas holidays, Gen. Reynolds's Arkansas 
brigade, which was stationed here, got too much whiskey, be- 

(110) 



72 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A, 

came boisterous and mutinous, and our regiment with other 
commands was called out to restore order. For a while the 
situation was serious, but the Arkansans were finally pacified. 
The second term of enlistment (two years) of original mem- 
bers of the regiment having expired in January, 1864, each re- 
ceived a thirty days' furlough on reenlisting. Companies C. 
H. and K were ordered to Jackson, Miss., Jan. 21, 1864, reach- 
ing that point Jan. 23. The object was to capture and bring 
across Pearl river a number of railroad locomotives, but 
the advance of Gen. Sherman from Vicksburg thwarted this 
plan, and the detachment returned to Meridian. 

MOBILE BAY CAMPAIGN. 

As Gen. Sherman's advance seemed to threaten Mobile, the 
regiment left Meridian Feb. 14 and marched to the Tombigbee 
river, embarked on steamer, reaching Mobile Feb. 20. For 
two weeks we did garrison duty at the forts and batteries along 
the line of land defenses, but were then withdrawn and encamp- 
ed on a vacant square in the residence part of the city. March 
13 we set out for Port Alabama, twenty-five miles down the 
bay, and after a two days' march through a flat, lonesome, 
piney woods country, reached our destination, pitching our 
tents on the bay front. While here, detachments of the regi- 
ment did garrison duty at Cedar Point and Fort Powell ; the 
rest, picket duty along the beach, on one occasion capturing 
and hanging a Yankee spy. Leaving the companies on garri- 
son duty, the regiment went by steamer to Fort Gaines April 
5, 1864, and was assigned to guns. We remained here a 
month, enjoying plenty of fish and oysters. The garrison also 
had a vegetable garden of ten acres, cultivated by daily details, 
but we left too soon to be benefited by this. 

At Fort Gaines the regiment handled its last artillery, its his- 
tory henceforth being blended with that of the Army of Ten- 
nessee. 

REGIMENT JOINS GEN. JOSEPH E. JOHNSTOn's ARMY RETREAT- 
ING ON ATLANTA. 

About May i the regiment left Fort Gaines for the Army 
of Tennessee then retreating before Sherman in North Geor- 
gia. We stopped about a week or ten dav« a^ Pollard, Ala. 

(120) 



Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns. 73 

While here Co. T was detailed for duty on Dog- river. Co. K at 
Hall's Landing, and Co. C at Greenville, Ala. The rest of the 
regiment left Pollard May i6, and joined the Army of Ten- 
nessee at New Hope Church, Ga., May i8, and was assigned 
to Cantey's brigade (but a week later was transferred to 
Quarles's brigade) Walthall's division, Polk's corps. The 
regiment's position was north of and near the church, in a new 
ground and in front of a branch. Fifty yards beyond the narrow 
valley of this little stream, was a dense undergrowth of bushes 
and saplings, held by the enemy's pickets. Heavy skirmishing 
was going on as we took our places in line. On May 25 the 
Federals made a general attack on our position. Three times 
they charged us from the copse in front, but were repulsed with 
heavy loss before they could cross this narrow valley perhaps 
a hundred yards. Assaults were made also on May 26 and 27, 
but not in such force. Companies I and C arrived in time to 
take part in the battle. Co. K reached us later, on the 28th. 

About 9 p. m. June 2, the army began its retreat to Lost 
Mountain, a distance of six miles, a march the most memorable 
in the long service of the regiment. Our road led across a 
range of high and steep red hills intersected with frequent 
streams which, normally insignificant, had been swollen by the 
recent heavy rains into roaring torrents. The soft, slippery 
clay on the tops and sides of the hills, except occasional stretches 
of boulders, the interstices of which were cut up into deep holes 
of slush, had been worked into a solid pulp a foot or more 
deep by our heavy army wagons. A chilly rain was falling in 
intermittent showers, the night was so intensely dark that the 
hand could not be seen an inch before the eyes, while the angry 
peals of thunder leaping from cliflf to cliff along the mountain 
crests blended into one prolonged, continuous sullen roar. All 
nature seemed up in arms against us. Men as they struggled 
along the road, each for hfimself, and with no respect for mili- 
tary' order, sank to their knees in mud from which with diffi- 
culty they extricated themselves ; or confiding too much to the 
smooth, slippery, treacherous surface of a projecting boulder, 
were hurled headlong, baggage and all, into the deep mud. 
Wagons and teams all along were stuck fast. Streams, some- 
times reaching up to our shoulders, were waded as we came 
to them. It was nearly daylight when we reached our position 

(121) 



74 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

on Lost Mountain, and the morning sun soon revealed an anny 
of men literally covered with red mud. 

The Federal's advance came up about noon, and a heavy 
skirmish ensued at the foot of the moimtain. That night our 
pickets intrenched in rifle-pits on the side of the mountain, 
the enemy a short distance below them. We occupied this po- 
sition about a week, the enemy not attempting to advance in our 
front. But heavy firing, generally on our left, was in progress 
every day. On the night of June ii we fell back to Pine Moun- 
tain, where the regiment again occupied a strong position, and 
was never attacked, in force. While on this line our Lieut. - 
Gen. Polk was killed by a fragment of shell. His death was 
deeply lamented by the whole army, but especially by his corps. 
June 1 6 the regiment retreated to Kenesaw Mountain, our 
position being on the highest ridge. Here, as at Lost and Pine 
Mountains, the enemy made several dashes up the sides of the 
mountain upon our rifle pits, but were repulsed. Sherman's 
main attacks were upon the flanks of the army, and as our corps 
occupied the center, we had little fighting. From our heights 
on Kenesaw we witnessed several hard battles on the flank. 
Also, there were heavy rains almost daily since we left New 
Hope Church. 

July 2 we fell back to a position two miles below Marietta, 
Ga. The rear of our position here was an old field ; the front, 
recently a forest whose timber had been felled for loo yards as 
an obstruction to the enemy. We found here a ditch ready for 
our occupancy. July 3 the Federals advanced in force to the 
edge of the timber in front, planted a battery on our right, and 
about 2 p. m. made a fierce attack from their positions, but did 
not charge. Heavy sharjD-shooting was kept up all night, and 
we slept on our arms. July 4th the enemy fired National 
salutes with loaded shot and shell at us, their brass bands along 
the lines struck up National airs with loud huzzahs. To us it 
looked like a big gala day among the Federals. The}' were 
drinking whiskey and in high glee. About 2 p. m. three 
double lines advanced about seventy yards over the felled tim- 
ber, halted about seventy-five yards from us, when the men 
stringing out under a big oak log and picking it up, limbs and 
all, would swing it around parallel to our breast works, form- 
ing a pretty good defense for themselves. They did this in 15 
minutes, under a murderous fire from our lines. Nobody but 

(122) 



Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns, 75 

a set of drunken fools would have attempted such a thing. 
From this time till night, the firing was heavy. Dr. Madding, 
our assistant surgeon, and loved by every member of the regi- 
ment, was killed. 

That night it fell to the lot of our brigade to cover the re- 
treat of Johnston's army. The men began filing silently to 
the rear by 9 p. m., and by 11 p. m. the ditches were empty, 
and Ouarles's brigade alone fronted Sherman's army. It was 
two hours later before we left, and they were hours of anxiety. 
We knew that the enemy had but to advance to capture us, and 
all those indications of advance so well known to Confederates, 
were in strong evidence. About i a. m. the command "File 
right, march," was whispered along the line. We moved out 
noiselessly ; and, stooping to conceal our movements, had gone 
but a few yards when Lieut. Knight was wounded by a bullet 
piercing his thigh and crushing the bone. He fell, but such 
was his pluck and presence of mind that not a groan escaped 
him, and without a word being spoken, he was picked up by 
the litter-bearers and borne on with us. 

Next morning we reached our position on the north bank of 
the Chattahoochee river and intrenched. The enemy soon 
came up, and skirmishing resumed. We remained here until 
July 9, when we crossed the river and took position on Peach- 
tree Creek. We occupied this position until the i6th, engaged 
in daily skirmishing, when we fell back to the defenses of At- 
lanta, our last stronghold. 

GEN. HOOD SUPERSEDES GEN. JOHNSTON. 

On July 18, it was announced that Gen. J. B. Hood had su- 
perseded Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The; news thunderstruck 
the army. Gloomy forebodings took the place of buoyant hope, 
and a keen sense of degradation was felt that the Army of 
Tennessee, heretofore commanded by a full general, was now 
to be commanded by a third rate general — a major-general, 
lately promoted to lieutenant-general. We should have had the 
same feeling if any other of like rank had been put in com- 
mand, except, possibly Gen. Longstreet. Further, it was be- 
lieved to be the result of intrigue at Richmond, and of the 
clamor of non-combatants at home. But for the patriotism of 
the army there would have been a vehement protest. As it was, 

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76 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

there was sullen submission. The army entertained the high- 
est opinion of Gen. Hood as a major-general. They knew he 
was loyal, patriotic and brave, but doubted his ability to com- 
mand the army. Johnston, by daily object lessons of partial 
engagements in which he was always victorious during his 
masterful retreat from Dalton to Atlanta, had inspired his men 
with a faith and enthusiasm seldom attained by any general. 
Neither the veterans of Lee nor the imperial guard of Napol- 
eon trusted its general more implicitly, or followed him with 
more unbounded enthusiasm. Johnston they could fol- 
low with certainty of victory ; Hood, only with apprehension 
of defeat and disaster. And had Gen. Johnston, even against 
his judgment, led his little army against Sherman, a very dif- 
ferent account of the siege of Atlanta could be written. To 
even the casual observer, a change in commanders would have 
been apparent. The most perfect order and system in the move- 
ments of the army were suddenly changed into utter confus- 
ion. Cavalry were hurrying in one direction; artillery, flying 
in another; infantry, double-quicking in another; and ever>-- 
where confusion. 

On the morning of July 20, Hood attacked Sherman's left, 
but our regiment being in reserve, was not engaged. Neither 
side gained any advantage. July 22 Hood again attacked Sher- 
man's left near Decatur with a much greater force, his object 
being to destroy Sherman's flanking column. This was one of 
the two great battles of Atlanta. Hood drove back the enemy, 
captured three thousand prisoners, but it was done at a fearful 
sacrifice of men ; and, as the enemy recaptured this position, 
there was no distinct gain to the Confederates. Our regiment 
was not engaged. 

About II a. m., July 28th, while preparing dinner, 
we were ordered into line and moved at quick time 
towards our left, and soon came to the poor house road in the 
edge of the woods. The day was intensely hot, without a 
breeze. After an hour of rest, we marched up the road and 
soon came in hearing of musketry ahead. We began to meet 
ambulances bringing our wounded from the battle, and the 
rattle of musketry was becoming more distinct. The regiment 
was drawn up in the edge of the wood, fronting an old worn- 
out pasture. The enemy's position was a quarter of a mile in 
front, at the edge of the woods along the opposite sidfe of this 

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Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns. 77 

pasture. The forest was of oak with dense undergrowth. The 
form of the surface between our regiment and the enemy was 
thus : gradual ascent loo yards, level 150 yards, gradual descent 
100 yards, steep hill 20 yards, a slough 20 yards wide, ascent 
of steep hill 20 yards, level to the enemy's position 25 yards. 
The position of the regiment where first formed, was excluded 
from the view of the enemy by the inclined plane in front. The 
Federals had no artillery until near the close of the battle, when 
they brought into action two Parrott gims nearly one-half mile 
from our right. These did us no harm. 

It was 2 p. m. when the regiment took its position as above 
described. The first thing that attracted our attention was 
Cantey's brigade to our right front, on top of the hill and under 
heavy fire. They were making no reply nor advancing, and 
seemed to be waiting for us. We were ordered forward. 
Reaching the top of the hill on Cantey's left, and now ourselves 
under heavy fire, we were ordered to double-quick. We charg- 
ed over the level space, down the descent and steep hill into 
the slough. A few in their zeal started up the hill beyond the 
slough, but were ordered back. All were ordered to lie down. 
Many of our comrades were left dead or wounded behind us. 
Cantey's brigade was not on our right as expected, nor did we 
again see anything of it during the battle. Two double lines of 
the enemy stood bdhind their breastworks in front. We waited 
half an hour for reinforcements and orders to advance. In the 
meanwhile the enemy were enfilading our position in the slough, 
and rapidly killing and wounding our men. While in this 
position lying on the ground John Reeves was on my left 
and between me and Lieut. A. Haley. The latter called my at- 
tention, and asked: "Isn't John killed?" I looked at Reeves, 
He had not changed his position on the ground or even uttered 
a groan. Still, he was lying motionless and made no reply. A 
moment later I noticed the blood gushing from a wound in 
his head. He was dead. Lieut. Haley is still ( 1904) living, I 
believe — perhaps at Troy, Ala. Reinforcements never came, 
and instead of orders to advance we were, after heavy loss, 
ordered to fall back. The retreat, as usual, was more disastrous 
than the advance, because the fire of the enemy was more delib- 
erate, and in consequence more accurate; and our men, now hav- 
ing to move up hill instead of down, and being hot and fa- 
tigued, required a longer time to recross the same space. The 

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78 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

regiment was re-fcrmed on the same ground where it had been 
first formed for the battle, and again charged into the slough, 
being ordered as before to halt and lie down. The enemy was 
now sweeping the slough with a leaden tempest. Men were be- 
ing killed and wounded faster than on the charge. After an- 
other half hour we were ordered to fall back, and were again 
exposed to a fearful fire. Forming again at the same place we 
charged the third time into the same slough, and the third 
time were ordered to halt and lie down in this ravine of de^ 
struction. Again, after half an hour we were ordered back. 
Almost completely exhausted by heat and exertion, we could 
scarcely walk. Many did not attempt it; but, resigned to their 
fate, awaited death or capture. Others, mastering all their 
strength and courage, began the retrograde movement in a 
slow walk back across the open space. The ravine and field 
were thickly strewn with the dead and wounded of the regi- 
ment, among the latter being our commander, Maj. S. L. Knox. 
I relate one incident of the last retreat as illustrating a com- 
mon scene after battle. We had passed nearly out of danger 
when I saw Lieut. W. A. Andrews of the Perote Guards fall. 
No litter-bearer being in sight, with a passing comrade I went 
to his assistance. The lieutenant was wounded in the ankle. 
We picked him up and were carrying him from the field when 
he was again struck, the ball this time ranging diagonally 
through his thigh and breaking the bone. He turned pale and 
requested that we lay him down and let him die. W^e procured 
a litter, placed him on it, and had reached the edge of woods 
where the regiment first formed. Here, leaning calmly against 
a sapling on the bank of a stream, we came upon Sergt. BrA^ant 
Brooks of the same company. There was nothing in his ap- 
pearance to indicate anything serious. To my question whether 
he was hurt, he replied : "Yes, I suppose I have my death 
wound," at the same time placing his hand upon his right breast. 
Requesting a passing comrade to take my place under Andrews's 
litter, I stopped with Brooks. Having examined his wound, 
and seeing that the ball had probably passed through his right 
lung, I told him that his condition was indeed serious ; then, 
wishing to say something to cheer him, I added that such 
wounds were not always fatal, and that he must not give up 
hope of life. Looking me full in the face, he replied with 
earnestness and composure, in such a tone that I could not es- 

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Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns. 79 

cape some sense of reproach: "I have not the slightest hope 
of sur\'iving this wound, but you know me well, and ought to 
know that I am not afraid to die." I replied that 1 knew he 
was not afraid to die, but I wished to hope that he would get 
well. He was a young man of 21, the picture of vigorous man- 
hood, and had married but recently while at home on a fur- 
lough. Not a more heroic death than this was that of Sergt. 
Jasper, at Savannah, Ga., during our Revolution. Nor less he- 
roic than that of Brooks was the death of a hundred or more 
of the First .Alabama's bravest men just up the hill there, and 
along its crest, and in the slough beyond. 

In the meanwhile, evening twilight had come, the firing had 
ceased, when I secured a litter and litter-bearers on which Serg.t 
Brooks was gently placed and borne to the filed hospital 
three hundred yards distant, where I procured a cot 
and immediate medical attention. Here the scene was 
more distressing than the battle. A crude operating ta- 
ble had been erected under the trees around which for 
fifty yards the wounded were lying on the ground in ago- 
nizing groans. Blood-stained litters were leaning about 
against trees, and over all, a few tallow candles cast their dim 
and flickering light. Watching my opportunity, I brought the 
surgeon to Brooks. He examined the wound, beckoned 
the assistant surgeon, both made a hasty examination ; the two 
stepped back in consultation ; the surgeon merely shaking his 
head negatively at me as he returned hurriedly to the amputa- 
tion table. Bidding my friend good-bye, I sought the camp of 
the regiment half a mile away. Sergt. Brooks died the next 
day. Lieut. Andrews's father lived about twenty-five miles 
from Atlanta, and two or three days later carried home his son 
by private conveyance, but the latter died only a few minutes 
before reaching the scenes of his boyhood. At the camp 
hardly one hundred of the three hundred of the regiment 
that had entered the battle had assembled. About 9 
p. m. our commissary wagons arrived. We had eaten 
nothing since breakfast. Here was another touching 
scene when the names of our dead and wounded were 
called to go up to the wagons and get their rations. After 
supper the companies of the regiment in groups were busy 
making out lists of their respective dead and wounded. A few 
left in the ravine, having escaped Yankee bullets and becomii g 

(127) 



80 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

rested, made their way out under cover of darkness, and 
reached our camp. The amusing case was that of Private Wil- 
hngham, a tall, slender, dark-skinned comrade, six feet high. 
On our first charge, as we were descending the hill, he fell for- 
ward on his face, at the same time throwing his hand to his 
head. He thought he was killed and so did we. The next day 
he was found at the hospital not seriously hurt. A minie ball 
liad struck him in the forehead, and glancing had torn up the 
skin in an ugly, but not dangerous wound. 

To the question : "Why did the First Alabama halt in the 
slough instead of pressing on ?" we give the reason afterwards 
given by our officers ; namely, because Quarles's brigade, that 
went nearer the enemy's works than any other command, was 
wholly unsupported." Another version was that our assault 
was merely a demonstration to keep the enemy from reinforc- 
ing his extreme right, the main point of our attack. It is cer- 
tain that there were no reserves as should have been in an actual 
attack. 

The regiment's loss here, dead and wounded, was greater 
than during the whole siege of Port Huason, and greater than 
in any other battle in which the regiment was engaged, though, 
possibly the per cent of killed mav have been greater at Frank- 
lin. 

The next morning, July 29, the remnant of the regiment 
was marched back to our old position along the breastworks 
above Atlanta. There was daily skirmishing until August 25, 
when Sherman, abandoning our front, swung around our left 
and met our forces at Jonesborough, where a hard battle was 
fought. From this time to Sept. 18, the regiment was on picket 
duty, reaching out as far as McDonough and Lovejoy station, 
camping at the latter place about two weeks. Here Hood 
abandoned Sherman's front, giving up to the latter all South 
Georgia for depredation and robbery, while the former marched 
northwards to Sherman's rear. Hood's design was to cut off 
vSherman from his base of supplies at Chattanooga and invade 
Tennessee. 



(128) 



Meridian, Mobile, and Georgia Campaigns. 81 

MOVF^MKNT IN REAR OK SHERMAN's ARMY, AND INVASION OF 
TENNESSEE. 

We left Lovejoy station Sept. i8, 1864, and tore up the Geor- 
gia State Railroad to Dalton. Thence we turned southwest to 
(jadsden, Ala., and thence northwest to the south bank of the 
Tennessee river, opposite Florence, Ala., reaching the latter 
point Nov. 14, after a march of about 400 miles by the route 
we had traveled. On this march we crossed the Chattahoochee 
river at Phillips ferrv% near Palmetto, Ga. ; the Coosa river at 
Coosaville, Ga., and the Black Warrior near Summit, Ala. 
President Davis reviewed the army at Palmetto, and Gen. Beau- 
regard at Tuscumbia, Ala. The army was eager for the latter 
to command us on our contemplated campaign in Tennessee. 

A few small garrisons left by Sherman were captured, ag- 
gregating about 1,700 prisoners, but Gen. French's division 
had been repulsed at Alatoona with heavy loss. At Decatur, 
Ala., there was a liJeavy skirmish in which our regiment lost 
one man killed. 



(129) 



CHAPTER V. 



THE TENNESSEE CAMPx\IGN, 1864. 



TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN. 

The reg^imcnt left Decatur October 29, 1864, and pass'n^ 
through Courtland and Jonesboro, reached Tuscumbia, where 
it remained about two weeks. On November 14, the army 
reached the south bank of the Tennessee river, opposite Flor- 
ence, as before stated, and went into camps. On Nov. 20 the 
army crossed the river on pontoons, and entered upon the con- 
templated invasion of Tennessee. The day was cold, cloudy 
and windy, and scattering snowflakes were falling as Hood's 
anr.y, thinly clad, poorly shod and half-fed, marched through 
the streets of Florence to the promised land of Tennessee. 
A few ladies appeared on galleries and at windows, giving the 
usual salutation by waving handkerchiefs, but their tears re- 
vealed that thev were without any hope of success. We camped 
that night a few miles beyond Florence. The next day we 
crossed the State line designated by a sign-board which we 
loudly cheered. The fourth day after leaving Florence, we 
came to a large creek with a narrow valley walled in on both 
sides by high precipitous hills. The regiment marched up this 
creek the whole day, crossing it fourteen times on rude bridges 
hastily constructed by our pioneer corps. Bushwhackers hid- 
den in the cliffs, would fire down upon us, and then escape 
through mountain passes unknown to our men. These bush- 
whackers in the mountains of Tennessee and other border 
States were Union men not from patriotism, but for plunder 
and robberv. They were an infamous set from the first to the 
last of the war, murdering their neighbors and burning their 
propertv to a degree that put to shame the Tories of the Revo- 
lution. While on this march quite a number of our stragglers 
captured by them were killed at once, while others reached us 

(130) 



The Tennessee Campaign, 1864. 83 

with their ears and noses cut off, or other evidences of barbar- 
ous indignities. The better class of Tennesseeans sympathized 
with the South, but previous to Hood's invasion had been 
compelled to take the oath of allegiance to the United States 
and didn't dare show us any favors. So in either case, we 
found no friends in Tennessee. 

At Henrv^ville, we emerged from the wildernees into a bet- 
ter community and soon reached Mount Pleasant, the home of 
G€n. Pillow, on the Columbia pike. Nov. 27 we arrived in 
front of Columbia, where we found the Federal army under 
Gen. Schofield intrenched. The march from Florence wajs 
made dnriug very cold weather and over frozen ground. Our 
rations were corn and peas that we gathered along the way and 
bread made of unbolted flour. Though we were in the land of 
plenty and were half starved, Gen. Hood allowed noi depreda- 
tions. 

About 9 p. m., November 28, an immense fire in Columbia 
re\'ealed that the enemy was evacuating the town. By day- 
light next morning our corps marched rapidly to the northwest 
and crossed Duck river on pontoons four miles above Colum- 
bia. We then turned north and parallel to the Franklin pike, 
and about two or three miles east of it. As the firing all 
day along the Franklin pike indicated, the enemy's retreat 
was being hotly pressed by Forrest, and a body of infantry. 
Our corps was on a forced march to pass the enemy and throw 
itself across the Franklin pike in front, thus cutting off his re- 
treat. A short spell of warm weather bad thawed the ground, 
and whether on bottom or hills, we sank at every step in mud 
over our shoes. Our line of march was over a cultivated and 
open country, the high hills and dense cornstalks presenting a 
serious impediment to progress. About 9 p. m. we were halted 
one-quarter oif a mile: from the Franklin pike north of Spring 
Hill, and in rear of Schofield, who was then being hard pressed 
at Spring Hill, by Forrest. This day's march of twenty-eight 
miles by the route we had traveled was the greatest the regi- 
ment had evter performed Stacking our arms and eating, 
we spread down our blankets upon the ground and were soon 
asleep, feeling sure that we had the enemy bagged. We sup- 
posed our corps extended across the Franklin pike. The ex- 
treme right was in twO' hundred yards of it, as we saw next 

(131) 



84 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

morning;. Why were we halted just there, leaving a way for 
the enemy to escape after all our hard marching? 

The reason (if there was a reason and it was not a blunder) 
is unknown to us. Had our corps been thrown, across the 
pike, the battle of Franklin would have been fought at Spring 
Hill instead, and doubtless with different result. As it was, 
Gen. Schofield, late in the night, retreated up the pike through 
the gap in our lines which looked like it had been left expressly 
for his accommodation. Early next morning the army moved 
rapidly up the pike in pursuit of Schofield. The pike was 
strewn along with dead and wounded horses ; quartermaster, 
commissary, ordinance stores, etc., scattered everywhere along 
the way made evident the enemy's precipitate flight. 

BATTLE OF FR.\XKLIN. 

When about four miles from Franklin, our corps was de- 
ployed to the right, formed in line, advanced towards Franklin, 
and soon struck a heavy skirmish line of the enemy. These 
were quickh' driven through a large cornfield and skirt 
of wood to their defenses at Franklin. Hardly an hour before 
sunset Hood's army was drawn up in full view of the enemy 
intrenched behind two parellel lines of breastworks about one 
hundred and fifty yards apart. The outer line was an ordinary 
ditch two or two and a half feet deep; the inner line, a ditch 
three and a half feet deep and four feet wide with a thick and 
strong embankment along which were portholes for muskets 
and embrasures for artillery. At one point of the line in front 
of an. old gin house there was a strong redoubt about fifty feet 
long, whose ditch was five feet wide and four feet deep and 
rampart four feet high, making eight feet from the bottom of 
the ditch to the top of the parapet. The space between the two 
armies was about six hundred yards from which all under- 
growth had been removed, leaving a park of a few large trees. 
The ground in our front towards the enemy was : a ravine, 
gradual ascent through the park to the outer line; and a level 
old pasture to the inner line. 

The army itself of about 18.000 ragged and half -starved 
men with tattered banners having accomplished a long and 
arduous march of five hundred miles across the mountains of 
Georgia and Tennessee, and facing double its numbers recalls 

(132) 



The Tennessee Campaign, 1864. 85 

vividly the shattered army of Hannibal when, after its terrible 
passage of the Alps, it was drawn up in line of battle before 
the well appointed legions of Scipio on the plains of the Ticinus. 
While in this position, momentarily expecting the order to 
advance. Gen. Forrest, mounted on his black charger, hat in 
hand down by his side, his face radiant and dark eyes flashing, 
rode down our front. The men, already eager for the fray, 
caught his enthusiasm, cheered him to the echo, and began ad- 
vancing before the order v/as given. Across the ravine, on 
through the park, officers in fromt, and men still cheering, moved 
the army in unbroken phalanx. When about one hundred yards 
from the outer line we received the first vo'lley from the enemy. 
The command "double quick" was given, cheers were changed 
to rebel yells, officers still in front, we charged the outer line. 
The rattle of musketry now drowned all commands of officers, 
and here, Capt. Dick Williams, acting Lieut.-Col. of the regi- 
ment, walking backwards to face the regiment as officers fre- 
quently do on drill, would wave his sword right and left, and 
then thrust it forward toward the enemy, indicating thus by 
acts instead of words, what he would have us do. The outer 
line was quickly carried, from which very few of the enemy es- 
caped. Here, perhaps, there was a pause of half a minute 
until the outer line could be swept of the enemy, and a rea- 
lignment made. By this time, owing to the stillness and rarity 
of the atmosphere, the smoke of musketry had settled in such 
a dense bank over the field in front, that friend could not be 
distinguished from foe at a distance of a few steps. The en- 
emy, four lines deep behind strong entrechments, were sweep- 
ing the old field between us with minie balls, and a battery of 
siege guns to our right and beyond Big Harpeth river was tear- 
ing up the groiund and knocking trees into fragments around 
it. Through a dense smoke and tempest of iron, our officers 
still leading, and the rebel yell still ringing, the army in per- 
fect order charged the inner line. Of the nature of the works 
of the enemy, we could have no conception until within a few 
feet. Dead and wounded had fallen at every step of our ad- 
vance, and our ranks were badly thinned. When the number 
and position of the enemy stood revealed, every old Confederate 
saw that it was to be a fight of one to two with an enemy 
strongly intrenched ; but despising numbers or advantage of po- 
sition they leaped down into the ditch, climbed up the embank- 

(133) 



8b First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

ment enveloped in a sheet of fire, and from the ramparts dis- 
charged their pieces in the face of the enemy, and with butts 
of guns closed in a hand to hand grapple with the foe. Here 
the intrepid Cleburne, leading his division at the head of his 
old brigade (Govans') fell across the breastworks with the re- 
puted dying words : "I am killed, but my old Arkansas brigade 
is glory enough for one man," — dying words worthy of his he- 
roic life. Alaj. Samuel L. Knox, the brave commander of the 
First Alabama, was lying a few steps av/ay, having been mor- 
tally wounded at the head of his regiment. But of the field 
thickly strewn with' dead and wounded, and of the almost to- 
tal annihilation of officers, our men engaged in a life and death 
struggle had neither knowledge nor thought. The enemy was 
brave, and had every advantage, but men have nevfer been made 
so brave as to be wholly unmoved by such audacity as the Con- 
federates exhibited. The Federal line reeled and staggered 
under our heavy blows and were saved from utter route only 
by the most strenuous efforts of their officers. One hundred 
yards to our left their lines and batteries were carried. If at 
this crisis Johnson's division, held in reserve, had come to our 
assistance, the field would have been instantly won. As it was, 
the unequal contest on the breastworks was maintained hardly 
more than a minute, when our men took the ditch on the oppo- 
site side, and fought the enemy across the ramparts, muzzle to 
muzzle. The enemy soon began enfilading our lines, and after 
half an hour's fighting in this position, and hoping in vain for 
Johnson's reserve, it was plain that we must escape by flight 
back to our lines, or be captured or killed. Especially de- 
structive was the enemy's cross fire upon the Confederates in 
the outer ditch of the redoubt, where the embankment was too 
high for the men to climb. A few surrendered, but most took 
chances of escape, protected somewhat by the smoke and dark- 
ness. The position of the First Alabama was in front of the 
redoubt and to the left. Hood had used only two pieces of 
artiller\' in the battle, but about 8 p. m. and after the Confed- 
erates had fallen back, he opened a heavy cannonade on the 
enemy's lines, and followed it up with a charge of Johnson's 
division, but was repulsed with great loss. Until midnight, 
and long after all the attacks from the Confederates had 
ceased, the enemy kept up an incessant fire to the front as if 
Confederates were charging. It was nearly day when the en- 
ds I) 



The Tennessee Campaign, 1864. 87 

emy's pickets fired their last gun, and hastened to join their 
comrades then retreating up the Nashville pike, beyond Big 
Harpeth river. 

It seldom happens in any battle that the ratio of killed to 
wounded is so great as was in this, and the reason is plain. It 
being night no flag of truce could be obtained for the re- 
moval of the wounded. As the enemy swept the field in front 
until a late hour at night every woimded soldier not able to 
carry himself from the field, nor reached by a litter-bearer, was 
shot to death where he fell. Never at any time did we see a 
litter-bearer on the battle field at Franklin. Either none were 
there, or else they shirked their duty in a cowardily manner, and 
are responsible for so many wounded soldiers losing their lives. 
Many of the First Alabama were mangled beyond recognition, 
and could be identified only by their clothing. Sam Chappell 
of Co. G, a youth of 18, was an example, whose body had been 
pierced by seventeen minie balls. Viewed next moirning by 
daylight, the space between the outer and inner lines to the 
right of the pike was heartrending. Gen. Hoodi is said to have 
wept when he beheld it. The bodies of our dead (for there 
were no wounded on the field the next morning) lay thicker 
and tliicker as you go from the outer to the inner line, and in 
the ditches they were literally banked up three or four men 
deep. The immense ditch in front of the redoubt was nearly 
full of our dead. There were also many lying along the top 
of the breastworks, and some even within the enemy's lines. 
While the loss of men was great, that of officers was much 
greater, owing to their reckless exposure. Among the killed 
were: Maj.-Gen. Cleburne and Brig.-v.Tens. Gist, Adams, 
Strahl and Granbury. Among the wounded were Maj.-Gen. 
Brown and Brig.-Gen. Custer, Manigault, Quarles, Cockrell 
and Scott. 

I shall not pause to refute the absurd stor^- that Gen. Hood 
next morning spoke disparagingly of the conduct of his army 
at the battle of Franklin. Gen. Hood was incapable either of 
falsehood or impropriety. 

BATTLE OF NASHVILLE. 

After burying our dead we took a last farewell of our loved 
commander, Maj. S. L. Knox, marched two miles up big Har- 
peth river and encamped for the night. Next morning ^ve 

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88 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

crossed the river, swung around to our left, and struck the 
Nashville pike four miles above Franklin. 

About 9 a. m., Dec. 3, we came in view of the enemy, in- 
trenched on a range of hills extending across the Hillsborough 
and Franklin pikes, and three miles south of Nashville. The 
position of the Confederates on the left of the Franklin pike 
occupied by our (Stewart's) corps was a valley bounded on the 
north, west and south by a range of high hills, and on the east 
by the Franklin pike, forming a rectangle one and a half miles 
north and south, and three-fourths of a mile east and west. 
Driving back the enemy's skirmishers we intrenched at the foot 
of the hill two hundred yards before the position of the enemy, 
and facing north. At the western extremity of our line we con- 
structed a redoubt, which our regiment occupied a few days, 
and then turned over to the defense of barefooted men, moving 
back a quarter of a mile into the valley. We all knew from 
the activity of railroads and steamers in Nashville that the en- 
em\' was hourly receiving heavy reinforcements. Our men 
were daily occupied in strengthening our works, the weather 
was intensely cold, snow several inches deep covered the frozen 
ground, and one-third of our men without shoes, were going 
about with their feet wrapped with rags while the rest were 
poorly shod. Details were sent out every morning in the country 
to impress leather, and all the old shoe cobblers in the army were 
pegging away. Even in this extremity the citizens showed us 
no substantial sympathy, but looked at us askance when we 
made known our mission, and told them we would pav fancy 
prices in Confederate money. We got no leather except what 
we found concealed, and which the owners let us have out of 
sheer respect for our muskets. Every farm-house we visited 
had its hogs, goats, and sheep imprisoned under the house; 
while horses, mules and cows were penned up in the chimney 
corner. In Tennessee as in Maryland, 

''We found the patriots very shy," 

and yet these people were truly loyal to the South. As previ- 
ously stated, most of our barefooted men were put in the re- 
doubt on the extreme left. 

About 2 p. m., Dec. 15, 1864, the enemy fiercely attacked our 
extreme right, at the same time charged the center, of which 
our regiment was a part. Though the enemy was much supe- 

(136) 



The Tennessee Campaign, 1864. b9 

rior in position and number, every charge was promptly met 
and repulsed in front of our regiment. Hood seemed to think 
that the main attack would be made on the right and drew off 
several commands from center and left to support it. But the 
attack on the right proved a feint that deceived Hood. When 
Gen. Thomas saw this, he marched his heavy column, already 
masked opposite the redoubt, quickly drove out the barefooted 
men, and began descending the hill on the immediate flank and 
rear of our regiment. For fifteen minutes the perfomance 
would have been most laughable, had it not been so serious. 
It was laughable anyway, and we did laugh, notwithstanding 
Yankee bullets. The barefooted men were scattered and run- 
ning in every direction, except towards the enemy, not only 
with the agility of well shod men, but of men with springs in 
their shoes. Two divisions of Cheatham's corps from the right 
were thrown across the enemy's advance, and: held him at bay 
until night. The behavior O'f these two divisions, fighting great 
odds in open field on level ground, and in full view of a large 
part of the army, won the highest admiration of all. 

During the night the army fell back about a mile, and lines 
were reformed. Hillsborough pike had been occupied by the 
enemy, leaving the Franklin pike oiur only line of communica- 
tion. The position of Stewart's corps during the second day's 
battle extended half a mile west from the Franklin pike along 
a valley to the foot of the range of high hills on our left as we 
faced north. This range of. hills, rising abruptly to a height 
of two hundred feet, covered with scrub timber and ledges of 
rock, continued its course south one-fourth of a mile, when de- 
flecting east nearly at right angles, extends to the Franklin 
pike, this last range being in rear of and parallel to our lines. 

The east part oif this rectangle formed by the Franklin pike 
on the cast, our line on the north, and the range of high hills 
on the west and south, was a forest of large timber without 
undergrowth; the western part, an open old pasture. Bates' 
division occupied the side and top of the hill on our left, sup- 
porting a battery of two small guns. The position of the reg- 
iment was in trenches behind a stone fence, fronting a corn- 
field, and about two hundred yards east of the foot of the hill. 
A few days of warm sunshine had melted the snow and thawed 
the ground, so that this now old miry cornfield thickly covered 

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90 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

with large cornstalks, was a formidale obstacle to approach in 
our front. 

About 9 a. m. the enemy opened a heavy cannonade along 
our whole front. Half an hour later they charged the posi- 
tion of our regiment with three lines of battle, and up against 
Bates' batter\- on our left. Their progress was slow and disor- 
derly, and for two hundred yards they were under the fire of 
our regiment, now armed with Enfield rifles, and their dead 
and wounded sprinkled w'ell our front. They came within 
tw-enty yards of our line, and then fled, falling thicker now and 
faster than before. About 2 p. m. another assault was made, 
but also repulsed. The main attack all day had been directed 
mainly against the position held by Bates' division and batter}' 
on top of the hill. Our line at Bates' battery turned at right 
angles due south along the top of this range of hills, and the 
enemy seemed to regard this as the key to the situation. There 
had been one continuous assault on it from the beginning of the 
battle, but was bravely defended by a single line of 
Confederates. The enemy, in the meanwhile had kept 
extending his line south from Bates' division on top 
of the hill, and by 12 o'clock had reached a point 
where the range turns due east to the Franklin pike, and in 
our rear. It was plain that the enemy's object was to extend 
this flanking column to the Franklin pike before night, and cut 
oflf our retreat. When not engaged we were interested specta- 
tors of this hard battle on top of the hill distinctly marked by 
two parallel lines of fire. About 4 p. m. and w^hen the flanking 
column of the enemy on the hill was about one-fourth of a mile 
from the pike, Bates' position and battery, after a most heroic 
defense, were carried by the enemy. This occurred in full view 
of the First Alabama. The enemy pouring through this open- 
ing in our line began moving upon the left flank and rear of 
our regiment. At the same time we were charged by a heavy 
force in front. W'e retreated down' our trenches to the right, 
loading and firing upon the charging force in front. We 
looked and hoped for reinforcements, but Hood, in fact, had 
none to send. The First Alabama went down the trenches one- 
fonrth of a mile, firing as rapidly as possible until the enemy in 
front was hardly ten steps away. Here it was clear that we 
must surrender, or at great peril to our lives attempt to escape. 
A few chose the fonner ; others, throwing down their guns, 

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The Tennessee Campaign, 1864. 91 

cutting off cartridge boxes and belts, but keeping canteens, hav- 
ersacks and blankets, sprang up from the ditch and made a 
dash for liberty through the park for the hill in the rear, four 
hundred yards distant, over which led their only way of escape. 
Still under fire, we climbed its side so precipitous in some places 
that we had to pull ourselves up by switches projecting from 
fissures of rock. Some were killed and wounded in this as- 
cent of tlie hill. After crossing this hill, and twoi or three oth- 
ers intersecting it on the south, we reached the Franklin pike 
about dark, and just as a slow rain began falling. 

Nowhere else has such injustice been done the Confederate 
soldier as at the battle of Nashville. The facts and conditions 
considered, no battlefield of the South more fully illustrates his 
superior quality as a soldier, contending as he was with an en- 
emy so vastly superior in numbers, appointments and physical 
condition. If we analyze his conduct during these two days, 
we shall find nothing to censure. The flight of barefooted men 
made up of odds and ends of the army and under officers un- 
known to them, could not be considered any discredit to the 
army. The conduct of Cheatham's two divisions, holding in 
check a much larger force on the: first day's battle, was most 
heroic. Bates' defense of his poisitioni for seven hours against 
overwhelming odds, and never yielding until his little band 
were nearly all dead or wounded in the trenches, and dead and 
wounded Yankees were literally piled up in his front for fifty 
yards, is entitled to the highest admiration. Bates did that day 
the hardest fighting of all, though he was at last overcome by 
sheer physical force. Again, after our lines were broken, the 
Confederates retreated in a walk down the trenchtes, at the same 
time firing as rapidly as they could at the enemy charging our 
front. Surely there was no evidence of panic in that. The 
truth is, at no time was there anything like a panic among the 
men. When the alternativie of capture or escape had to be 
made, some chose the former, some the latter, but in either case 
the decision was made deliberately, and certainly it took some 
courage to attempt to escape under such circumstances. The 
popular impression is that a soldier never runs except when 
scared, but soldiers of experience know that it often requires 
greater bravery to run than to charge a fort. Again, we killed 
and wounded many times more Federals at Nashville than they 
did of Confederates. 

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92 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

This was the last battle that the Army of Tennessee fought 
under Gen. Hood as commander, and it is seen that one un- 
broken series of disasters fully justifies the apprehension of the 
army when he took command. Gen. Hood was one of the bra- 
vest of the brave, and we do not think his proa^en incompetency 
to command the army detracts one jot from his distinguished 
services to his country. The same misfortune might have be- 
fallen any other subordinate general of the army. 

RETREAT FROM TENNESSEE. 

Resuming, the army, in a totally disorganized condition, 
t-amped on all night through rain and slush down the Frankl'n 
pike. The next day the commands were practically reorgan- 
ized at Franklin. Four days later we reached Columbia, where 
we remained nearly a week. Here Forrest's cavalry, and Vv'al- 
tl'sll's division, to which our regiment belonged, were formed 
ii:to a rear guard to cover the retreat of the army. These corn- 
bined aggregated only about 2,000 effective men, but success- 
fully resisted every advance of the enemy, several times driving 
them back in disorder, capturing men, guns, etc., and securing 
to the army a safe and orderly retreat. While at Columbia 
snow fell to a depth of several inches, and the pike all the way 
thence to Pulaski was flecked by blood of our barefooted men 
on the white snow. At Pulaski the army left the pike, and 
marched two days southwest across a hilly country. The third 
day we came to a creek the valley of which w"e descended a 
v»'hole day, crossing it many times on pole bridges constructed 
by our pioneer corps. I^eaving this, we again marched across 
a hilly country to Shoal creek which, swollen by the re^-.-nt 
heavy rains to a width of two hundred yards, presented a se- 
rious obstacle to our advance. However, being shallow, it 
was passed by deep fording. 



(140) 



CHAPTER VI. 



CAMPAIGN IN THE CAROLINAS. 1864-1865 



FIRST ALABAMA REGIMENT SENT TO NORTH CAROLINA — BATTLES 
OE AVERYSBORO AND BENTONVILLE. 

The army recrossed the Tennessee river at Bainbridge, a few 
miles above Florence', Ala., Dec. 24, 1864. Reaching Corinth, 
the sick and barefooted were sent to hospitals, the rest of the 
army to join Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, who had superseded 
Gen. Hood and who was then opposing Sherman's march of 
lobbery and conflagration across the Carolinas. 

Our regiment had about 100 effective men and officers. Ev- 
erywhere along our route from Corinth to North Carolina were 
devastation, ruin, and crushed hopes. Still, with a sublime 
faith in our cause akin to inspiration, we were not at all affected 
by these facts, and could not entertain for a moment the thought 
that our banner would go down in defeat. This feeling in the 
army was not at this time fully shared by the people at home. 
Our regiment was detained two weeks at Augusta, Ga., until it 
could be recruited by the return of our sick and barefooted. 
We left Augusta March 2 and joined Johnston's Army March 
14, 1865, and on the i6th took part in the battle of Averysboro, 
in which our regiment escaped loss. On the 19th it participated 
in the last battle of the Army of Tennessee at Bentonville, N. 
C, where it formed part of the charging force that stormed 
the Federal lines and drove them in confusion half a mile. In 
this last battle several of the regiment were killed and wounded, 
among the former being Lieut. Williamson of Co. C, (Guards 
of the Sunny South.) 

Thus the glorious "Old First," that had been the first to 
take up arms in defense of their rights and homes, left some of 
its best life's blood on its last battlefield, having nowhere at any 
time ever failed of its duty, and having received special men- 

(Ul) 



94 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

tion fcr commendable conduct in the official report of every 
commander under whom it had served' — an imperishable honor 
to every one of its members, and to their descendants forever. 
\\ hile on one point I cannot speak authoritatively for other 
companies of the regiment, I may be permitted to speak of my 
own (Perote Guards), and from this the reader may judge the 
others. A muster roll of the company recently compiled ( 1902) 
by the survivors, shows 197 men. Not one of these ever de- 
serted, put a substitute in his place, or attempted to evade the 
Confederate service by exemption laws, or by any other means. 
All except the few that lived to return home, are on the battle- 
fields and in the Confederate cemeteries of the North. And 
this, too, when most members of the company were sons of per- 
sons of ample means, who could have easily secured their free- 
dom from service. 

FIXAL SURRENDER OF ARMY. 

On April 27, 1865, the regiment was surrendered by John- 
ston to vSherman at Greensboro, N. C, paroled, and the men 
immediately set out for their respective homes, which some did 
not reach until July. 

How this same Confederate soldier, returning with blasted 
hopes to homes of destitution and desolation, and despite car- 
petbag rule for ten years, lifted our Southland from the ashes 
of despair and placed it on the high road to prosperity and hap- 
piness, forms another and more heroic chapter in the history- of 
his achievements. 



(142) 



CHAPTER VII. 



REMINISCENCES AND INCIDENTS. 



The narrative history of the regiment having been completed, 
I now propose to indulge in a chapter of reminiscences and in- 
cidents. These, it is hoped, will prove interesting in themselves, 
and worthy of permanent preservation, although not forming a 
part of the regimental history proper. 

TWO ARKANSANS OUTGENERALED. 

While a Red river steamer was discharging its cargo of ba- 
con at the landing, private I. H. Johnson of the Perote Guards, 
was sitting upon the bluff overlooking the landing, an inter- 
ested spectator of the scene below. The mysterious move- 
ments of two Arkansas soldiers mixing with the boat hands at 
work especially excited his curiosity. He kept his eye on them. 
Sure enough the first opportunity that opened, when the backs 
of the boat hand's were turned, they grabbed each a side of ba- 
con and ran off. An idea struck Johnson. His camp was not 
a hundred yards away while that of the Arkansas men was 
half a mile distant with a skirt of forest intervening. Johnson 
rushed to his camp, quickly donned a sergeant's coat, picked 
up a file of men and dashed off around the skirt of woods in 
his "flank movement." He intercepted and arrested the Ar- 
kansans, started to camp with prisoners and spoils, but soon 
halted for a parley. Our pro tem sergeant expressed deep 
sympathy to and for his prisoners, saying that he knew rations 
were short ; that he thought it hard, under the circumstances, 
for soldiers to be court-martialed, and probably balled and 
chained for a month merely for trying to get something to eat ; 
and then intimated that if he could do so with safety to himself 
he would turn them loose, but that he would be obliged to carry 
the bacon to camp and make his report. The Arkansans 

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9<j First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

eagerly accepted this proposition, and in less than half an hour 
"our sergeant" came marching back to camp, each of his men 
with a side of bacon and cheered by the whole company. I 
can't say whether or not our "sergeant" ever reported this haul 
to headquarters, but it has always been our private opinion that 
Lee's veterans never got any of that meat. 

BEEF HEADS. 

As our allowance of beef became more and more stinted, the 
men would occasionally supplement with a beef-head from the 
slaughter pen, half a mile distant. These beef-heads cost noth- 
ing, except to go and get them, and w^hen properly prepared and 
well cooked, made, as we then thought, a most delicious dish. 
Each member of the mess would take his turn in going for a 
head. My turn came, and I went. Then I wished I had never 
seen the place. The slaughter pen stood at the head of a rav- 
ine whose walls were steep and twenty feet high. Into this 
great trough the ofifal, filth, and such beef-heads as had not 
been given away, had been "dumped" for many months. It was 
a loathsome, sickening sight, covering about a fourth of an acre, 
standing four or five deep in the lob-lolly about the consistency 
of mud, with beef-heads floating about at random and in vari- 
ous degrees of submergence, some just thrown in and on top of 
the surface, some buried to the roof of the horns, some with half 
the horns, others wath barely the tips of the horns projecting 
above this vast slough of slime, the whole in a seething ferment 
with worms, each working as energetically as a Yankee trying 
to drive a trade. It was here, according to Col. Steedman, that 
a picked body of Federals tried to "sneak through our lines" 
on a stormy night during the siege ; and it was this place that 
he describes by the undignified, though not inexpressive term, 
of "putrid mess." 

Nevertheless, I soon secured my beef head and carried it to 
camp. As I walked up and threw dow-n my prize before the 
cook-stand of the mess, a comrade lying stretched out half 
asleep on a rough bench lazily drolled out. "Here's yer beef 
head." "y'oars," said I, indignantly, "not mine. I shall never 
again taste beef-head hash." And I have not. 



(144) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 97 

ASLElliP ON HIS POST. 

The Perote battery at Port Hudson was less than one hun- 
dred yards from the camp of the company and in full view of 
the whole camp of the regimient. On one occasion I had charge 
of the night guard at our regimental batteries along the river. 
The Perote Guards had been working that day at our battery, 
and using a pair of skids twelve inches square, which they had 
left on top of the battery lying one across the other, a tempting 
seat to sit down and lean back. We were so near our camp 
that the guard occupied their tents while not on post, as did 
also the corporals of the guard. 

Just before day the relief to our battery was sent out. It 
Avas a ioggy, chilly, drowsy morning in the spring. The relief 
had a white blanket thrown over his shoulders. About dawn I 
accidentally, or providentially, walked out of my tent and 
looked towards our battery. To my horror the guard was sit- 
ting down on that lower skid and leaning back against the up- 
per one, evidently fast asleep. I hastened: to- the post. He 
was my friend, my class-mate in Latin and Greek, of high social 
position at home. More, he was a true, brave. Confederate 
soldier. Not for the whole world would he have purposely 
done this. He yielded to the temptation of this inviting seat, 
and sleep steathily overcame him. But what shall I do? It 
was a terrible dilemma. The penalty of the offense to him 
is death. Unless I report him, I am guilty as he. I glanced 
searchingly over the camp of the regiment to see if there was 
any witness except myself. Twice more I did the same. Few 
had risen from their night's rest, and were stirring around. I 
will wake him. If reported myself, I shall make a clean breast of 
the whole affair to Col. Steedman, and to Lieut. -Col Locke. 
They will exonerate me. All these thoughts flashed through 
my mind during the few seconds I had paused and was stand- 
ing over my sleeping comrade and friend. Then with both 
hands I grabbed and shook him violently. Startled, and with 
a cry of terror he sprang to his feet, his large gray eyes flashed 
widely open, and looking as wild as a maniac. He fully re- 
alized his situation. Without a word he went to pacing his 
beat. I sat down on the skid. I occasionally glanced at his 
face as he went back and forth on his beat, and saw plainly de- 
picted there the fearful agony within. During these moments 
7 

(14-) 



98 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

he doubtless had before him visions of dungeons and being shot. 
I too was distressed on his account, for I loved him much. 
Then I arose, walked with him on his beat and said : "Give 
yourself no fears ; I shall not report you." What a change came 
over his face ! And I have kept my promise to this day. I 
have many times related the incident since the war, yet no one 
save myself knows or has ever known who it was. 

A year later this comrade died at home while on furlough 
and convalescing from a severe attack of typhoid fever, and 
while our regiment was at Mobile. 

MIKE BROGAN WOUNDED AN INCIDENT OF PORT HUDSON, 1863. 

Before light on the morning of May 27 ,1863, Lieut. -Col. 
M. B. Locke, commanding our regiment, ordered me to take a 
file of men, go down our lines to an eminence about 600 yards 
distant to the left of our regiment, this position afifording a 
commanding view of a clearing in Big Sandy swamp across 
which the enemy were expected to pass in their contemplated 
attack on Port Hudson that day, and as soon as they passed, to 
report to him. About sunrise the enemy began to advance, and 
were met by Confederates down in the swamp half a mile in 
front of our breastworks, where the fighting soon became vigor- 
ous and general all along our entire front. We had only a 
heavy slcirmish line engaged with a heavy force of the enemy, 
and aboait 8 a. m. this began to retreat to our breastworks, 
closely followed' by the enemy in force. There were, in our 
front, many small elevations or knolls and these the Federals 
quickly covered with batteries of Parrott guns, oixning at once 
a bombardment of our position. The Federal infantry, during 
this time, had halted about 300 yards in our front down under 
cover of the woods, and were reforming their lines preparatory 
to an attempt to storm our breast works. By 9 a. m. it was 
plain to me that the enemy had reached a position between the 
clearing and our lines without having crossed the clearing I 
had been sent to watch, and that I could not longer be of service 
here. I so stated to my men, Mike Brogan and Joe (P. 
J.) Blue, and told them we must go to our regiment. In leav- 
ing this position I was theoretically disobeying my orders, but 
I felt sure Col. Locke would approve my course, and he did 
afterwards not only approve, but complimented me for this 

(14.;) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 99 

course. The enemy by this time were sweeping the old field 
in rear of our lines, and to reach our regiment was a dangerous 
undertaking. Blue and Brogan protested vehemently against 
it. To them it seemed both rash and contrary to my orders. 
There were not, in my opinion, braver men or better soldiers in 
the Confederate army than Blue and Brogan. Either was 
much braver than I, but I could not endure the thought of re- 
maining there idle during a great battle in which the best ser- 
vices of every man wx)uld be needed ; and I was firm in my de- 
cision to go tO' our regiment. Pointing to a ravine about 200 
yards distant, I said: "We can make our way to that, and 
thence, with very slight exposure, descend the ravine to within 
100 yards of our regiment." We all dashed out together into 
the shower of lead and reached the head of the ravine in safety. 
Then we went down the ravine whose w^alls were very abrupt 
and 25 or 30 feet high, to a spring about 100 yards in rear of 
our regiment. We were tired and hot, and after taking a good 
drink of water sat down to cool and rest in this delightful re- 
cess of dense shade. The men oi our regiment had worn a 
path on the western wall of the ravine, going back and forth 
for water. While sitting here cooling and resting for the final 
dash of 100 yards to our regiment, the enemy had put in posi- 
tion a strong battery in front of Capt. Meadows' batteiry on the 
extreme right of our regiment, and opened up a furious fire of 
grape and shrapnel — mostly the latter — and it so happened that 
the path up the bluff was on a direct line with the position of 
Meadows' battery, and that of the enemy ; so that the shot di- 
rected against the former swept the path. 

The enemy's battery was firing so rapidly that a volley of 
shrapnel crossed our path about every ten seconds, and, as it 
was difficult of egress from the spring any other way, it looked 
like we were bottled up, and that even without any intention 
or knowledge of the Yankees. This volley swept a space of 
about fifteen or twenty feet across the path, and so dense with 
bullets that hardly a sprig of grass was spared. The question 
now before us was, could we three, ascending that steep bluff 
in single file, pass across the destructive space during the inter- 
mission of volleys. I thought it doubtful, my conrades declared 
it would be certain death. From our position we could see 
our lines, and from the rattle of musketry I knew that a hard 
fight was on ; and I was determined to reach my regiment. I 

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100 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

told the boys that, if we would be ready, and make a rush up 
the bluff just after one volley passed, we could get beyond the 
range before the next volley. As I had directed we made a 
dash up the hill, 1 ahead, Joe Blue next, and Brogan bringing 
up the rear, each of course running as fast as he could, and 
slow at that on account of the steepness of the bluff. Just as 
1 reached the top I heard the voile;)' sweep across the path be- 
hind me. 1 instinctively turned and looked back. At the 
same moment Brogan uttered a cry of agony. I had looked 
just in time to see him falling. He was twenty feet behind me, 
and Blue about midway between us. No time was to be lost. 
Brogan was lying wounded on the edge oi the volley range, and 
in a few seconds be would be exposed again. How seriously 
Brogan was wounded we did not know, but I feared mortally. 
With all speed Blue and I ruslied to his relief, picked him up 
and hastily as we could hurried back down the bluff', just clear- 
ing the range as the next volley swept the path. We took 
Brogan to the spring, bathed him in cool water, giving him 
plenty to drink. He was suffering intensely and bleeding pro- 
fusely. We felt some measure of relief to find that his wound 
was not mortal. But his agonizing groans and shrieks were 
distressing. He was in a state of delirium, and raved like a 
mad-man, so that we could hardly do anything with him. Dur- 
ing tliese paroxysms he frequently roared out : "Ed, you are 
the whole cause of this ; you caused me to be shot down like 
a beef — murdered." When I pointed out that it was our duty 
to get to our regiment, he would quiet down and say : "Oh, 
no! no, no, no! You are not to blame; you were doing your 
duty. I do not blame you." We spread dow-n his blanket on 
the ground, made a sw^ing by fastening both ends of his other 
blanket to the limb of a sapling, placed his wounded foot in the 
swing about two feet above the ground. This elevation of his 
feet gave him great relief, and he became quiet. I was de-» 
tained by this occurrence about half an hour more. I left Bro- 
gan in care of Blue with directions to get him to the hospital 
as soon as he could, and then running the gauntlet of shrapnel 
a second time without harm, and also the space of about lOO 
yards between the ravine and my regiment. I reached my com- 
mand just as the first man ("Zeke" Meredith) of my company 
was killed, and only a few minutes before the first great assault 
was made on our lines. 

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Reminiscences and Incidents. 101 

A PIECK 01? SHELL. 

During' the last two dr three weeks of the siege of Port Hud- 
son we had the Yankees so trained that when they started to 
make an assault on our position we would discharge a few vol-* 
leys from our breast-works, when they would scamper back to 
the cover of the woods, and that would be the last of the fight- 
ing for that day. We were much worn down physically by in- 
cessant watching and fighting day and night during the preced- 
ing weeks of the siege ; and our officers seeing they they coild 
do so with safety, allow two men daily from each company to 
go back to our camp on the bank of the river for a day's rest. 
Under this rule a comrade and myself were spending a day at 
camp, \vhere there was nothing to molest save a Yankee rncrtar 
battery out beyond our lines that was exploding a shell high 
above our camp about every half hour. These shells generally 
fell in small fragments in the camp, and to these we paid no 
attention ; but occasionally a bomb would burst into two or more 
large fragments, and the descent of these from so great a height, 
with rapidly increasing velocity, and resembling the sound 
made by the flapping of a large fowd, were always unwelcome 
intruders. We had taken our naps and were lying on our re- 
spective bunks talking when one of these large fragments 
started homeward. At first we gave it no attention. On, on 
it came, the sound becoming more and more distinct, and the 
fragment apparently coming down through our tent. We 
stopped talking and turned our eyes upwards towards the top 
of the tent. For several moments it seemed to be dancing 
along the ridge-pole of our tent. It did strike the ground in 
the very door of our tent, burying itself about one and a half 
feet in that hard ground. 

On another occasion, a comrade was lying in his tent asleep 
with his head on his knapsack, when a minie ball from the en- 
emy's line half a mile away, passed through his tent cloth and 
knapsack. The comrade, I believe, was Sergeant Owen 
Dykes. 



(149) 



102 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

DARING ESCAPE OF LIEUTS. E. J. M. PADGETT, OF THE PEROTE 
GUARDS, AND \VM. F. CLEMENTS, OF THE GUARDS OF 
THE SUNNY SOUTH, FROM PORT HUDSON, 
LA., IN JULY, 1863. 

In the Fall of 1876 Lieut. Padgett then, as now (1904), en- 
gaged in orange culture near Leesburg, Fla., made a tour of 
several months among his old friends in South Alabama. He 
was suffering from chronic chills. I was then principal of the 
Rutledge (Crenshaw county) High School, and Lieut. Padgett 
spent a week with me at my residence. At this time the war 
was still much talked of by surviving Confederates, and it was 
during one of these conversations that I was reminded of the 
escape of himself and Clements from Port Hudson, and asked 
him to state to me the particulars of that famous adventure. 
This he did, afterwards writing out, at my request, the whole 
story which I subsequently had published in the Union Springs 
Herald. When Port Hudson was surrendered, July 8, 1863, 
the men were paroled but the officers were reserved for north- 
ern prisons. The officers had before them the prospects of long 
imprisonment, untold suffering and probably death in far away 
northern prisons. This was to be dreaded more than death on 
the battlefield. Under far different conditions, indeed, did the 
men and officers of the First Alabama Regiment part on the 
bank of the ivj ississippi at Port Hudson — the former on parole 
with the pleasing anticipation of meeting loved ones again in 
the old Alabama homes ; the latter, for northern prisons. Hor- 
rors of prison life it was that led so many officers of the little 
Port Hudson Army to take their lives in their hands and risk 
all to effect their escape. Several other officers of our regi- 
ment made good their escape through the Federal lines, but we 
can recall none other now (1904) save that of the lion-heartec' 
Richard Williams, captain of the Clayton Guards. What his 
personal experience was we shall probably never know, for he 
has left us no written record ; but, w^hatever his perils and vicis- 
situdes, we feel perfectly assured of one fact — that his iron 
nerve was equal to every emergency. Nor did the Southern 
Army fumish to the Southern Cause two higher examples of 
courage and nerve than in the persons of Lieuts. E. J- M. Pad- 
gett and Wm. F. Clements. 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 103 

When I was principal of the Fort Deposit Institute (1891-2), 
Lieut. Clements was living and merchandising in that town, as 
he had been doing since the close of the war, and having been 
shown by me the story of Lieut. Padgett in reference to their 
escape from Port Hudson, he affirmed every word to be true 
and correct. 

Lieut. Clements died in 1901 or 1902. 

But to the story of Lieut. Padgett under date of September 
15,1876: 

I had been in the ditches for about fifteen days, the other 
otfioers of our company all being sick. The day of the surren- 
der I was relieved and went back to camp to change my cloth- 
ing. I had dressed and was sitting in a tent playing a game of 
chess with Prof. F. T. Chase when the news of our surrender 
reached me. I immediately went and procured some shelled 
corn, parched it, went to a hand-mill we had, and ground it 
into hominy. I then mixed with it about one-third sugar, 
making it much more palatable than the mule beef which, you 
remember, we had been subsisting on for several days. When 
I got my haversack of parched com and sugar, I began to cast 
about for some reliable man to go with me ; for I determined 
to make a desperate attempt to eftect my escape from Port Hud- 
son. I met up with Lieut. Wm. F. Clements who said he was 
willing to join me in the undertaking. Our plan was to wait 
till dark, get a little boat and try to pass down through the 
Yankee fleet lying about three miles below us. Our hope was 
by rowing as near the fleet as we deemed prudent, and then 
scuttling our boat and letting her float down the stream that we 
could make our way through their line of gunboats. But when 
we got near enough to obtain a full view, we recognized the 
impossibility of this plan from the compact line of Yankee 
crafts strung, chain-like, across the river, thus enabling those 
to inspect minutely even a passing log or chunk. After a mo- 
ment's consultation we determined to^ make for the opposite, or 
east bank of the river. The night being a little cloudy inspired 
us with some hope of sucoess. When we got within, I sup- 
pose, two hundred yards of the bank, we wiere challenged with : 
"Who comes dere?" I replied "friends," and immediately 
turned about and and told Clements to pull for life back to 
camps. W^e had gone but a little ways when the challenging 

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104 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

party fired upon us, and a)lmost instantly a long line of picket 
fire was opened upon us from along the shore. We escaped 
untouched and rowed our boat safely back to camp. We got 
back between midnight and day and found the encampment all 
astir. The Yankees had issued rations to our men, every mess 
had a big fire, and the hungry rebels were up cooking. Clem- 
ents and I filled our haversacks and started again, determined 
this time to escape through the main line of the enemy. We 
thought it a life and death case, for, ycxu remember, Gen. But- 
ler at New Orleans had issued orders that all officers of the 
Confederate army captured should be held as hostages for any 
of his men who should suffer violence at our hands. 

While at the front I had noticed that there were no breast- 
works across the ravine (for location of this ravine see map of 
Port Hudson, just in rear and east of the First Alabama reg- 
iment) between cur right and the 12th Arkainsas on our right, 
and told Clements we would make for that ravine. We struck 
the ravine about two hundred yards in rear of the breastworks, 
conjecturing that the Yankees had posted a strong picket on 
this line. We thought to approach their picket lines as near 
as possible and conceal ourselves during the next day, hoping 
by some good fortune to get into possession of their counter- 
sign. We crawled upon our hands and knees until we thought 
we were near enough their line, and fortunately just in front of 
us was a large patch of briars. With our pocket knives we cut 
our way in under these briars. Not long after we got still we 
heard heavy breathing as of some one asleep. Clements whis- 
pered to me that it was Capt. Williams' squad of the Clavton 
Guards — that he had heard in camp that night that Capt. Wil- 
liams would attempt 10 make his escape. Clements, who had 
been eating raw beef-tongue, and, it very salty and dry, was 
nearly dead for water, and proposed that he crawl up to the 
supposed Capt. Williams and get some water from him. As it 
was nearly day. I prevailed on him to wait until daylight. 
When it grew light we found that we had crawled up within 
fifteen feet of a Yankee picket station, and there we had to lie 
the whole day. not daring to move. You may talk about mos- 
quitoes in Florida, but I never had them to bite me as thev did 
in that briar patch. I would lift my hand and rub them off, 
and so soon as I would take my hand down they would cover 
my face again. Thus we suffered torments all that day which 

(152) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 105 

seemed tO' be an eternity. The mosquitoes bit the Yankees, too, 
for as soon as night came they built small fires at every picket 
post. We saw the Yankee officer of the day when he posted the 
pickets that evening, and heard his instructions to the guard, 
but were not able to understand the countersign well enough 
for us to attempt its use. The sergeant who relieved the guard 
about 9 o'clock remarked to the relief that he suspected there 
were rebels in the woods, and that if anything made a noise in 
the bush toi say "hold ;" count one, two, three, and fire. We 
thought our chance slender, but still determined to risk it. So 
we crawled out from the briars by the same way we went in, 
got midway between the picket posts, and stretched out our 
length flat on the ground, like a measuring worm length by 
length we went across the lir^e. We wandered all night in and 
out of the enemy's breastworks until nearly day (having to 
crawl, our progress was very slow) when we came to a fence 
corner grown up thick with weeds and bushes. Here we lay 
concealed another day, seeing the Yankee army, except their 
pickets, going- into Port Hudson. About 9 o'clock that night, 
the third night, we again started out from our place of conceal- 
ment. We got along very well until we approached the cavr 
airy encampment, where we knew we must pass another line of 
pickets. I proposed to Clements that I crawl up and 
hunt for the picket line, letting him remain where he was. I 
crawled up the hill and just on top I heard footsteps. I lay 
flat on the ground and soon discovered that the person, who- 
ever he might be, was coming directly towards me. I lay as 
flat and still as possible, and soon realized that I had stopped 
immediately on the picket line. The sentinel walked up within 
ten feet of me, held up his foot, struck a match and lit his pipe. 
I looked him in the face until he turned about and marched up 
his beat. Clements came up quickly and we passed on. Soon 
we were in their camps and passing around tlieir horses hitched 
by companies, frequently passing near the men lying asleep un- 
der the trees on great piles of cotton they had evidently stolen 
from the planters in the community. Clements proposed! to 
seize each a horse and make a dash. I objected, saying we 
were doing well, and better let "well enough alone." Having 
to pass around so many camps and fires we lost our course, and 
as it was a cloudy night without a star, we could not recover 
it. We wandered about until nearly day, when finding that 

053) 



106 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

we would have to spend another day in the encampment, we 
began to look for a suitable place to conceal ourselves, W^e 
finally came, about daylight, to a newly felled tree. We got 
into the toj), and by cutting brush with our knives, soon cov- 
ered up ourselves. We lay there without a drop of water until 
about 4 p. m. when a hard rain came up, and b\' rolling our hat 
brims on the side managed to catch enough water in our can- 
teens for a good drink. Just before night three negro men 
approached our tree top with axes. Clements said: "Padgett, 
we are gone up." But when the axmen approached nearer 
they decided, much to our relief, to cut down another tree. 
During the day we had been able to get the right direction from 
the sun, and about 9 p. m. we again sallied forth, soon leaving 
the enemy behind us. When we struck the railroad Clements 
exclaimed : "We are safe now, and started down the road to- 
wards Port Hudson, when I stopped him, saying : "You are 
going back to Port Hudson." He contended, and I soon saw 
that we could not agree. I told him that, however much I dis- 
liked it, we would separate, I taking the other end of the road. 
We discussed the seven stars, and he finally agreed to go with 
me until both should decide that I was wrong and he right. 
We went on through a large plantation for some distance when 
we discovered woods in front. I remarked to Clements that 
the enemy very likely had a strong rear guard as our Gen. Lo- 
gan had been attacking their rear every day or two and that 
their rear picket line would probably be at the edge of the wood. 
We decided that I should slip along ahead and reconnoitre. 
While moving forward cautiously some ominous night fowl, 
making a strange shrill noise, flew a few feet in front of me. 
Already filled with presentiment, this caused me to halt, when 
I distinctly heard horses stamping the ground in the woods. 
Thus was fancy, in a manner strange enough, turned into re- 
ality. We hurriedly retraced our steps up the railroad, and 
turned out to surrotmd the picket post. This we effected with 
ease, both exclaiming "Safe!" when we again reached the rail- 
road beyond the pickets. We then marched on for two hours 
and came to very fine corn growing on each side of the track, 
from which we knew we were outside the Yankee lines. Just 
then some half a dozen heads bobbed up above the cross ties, 
demanding "halt! halt!" and "click, click" went their gun- 
locks, about twenty steps in our front. We stopped ; neither 

(.154) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 107 

Clements nor myself spoke a word. We scarcely breathed. 
One of the mysterious heads demanded: "Who comes there?" 
I waited for Clements, and he for me to speak. When the de- 
mand was repeated 1 replied : "We are Confederate soldiers 
making our escape from Port Hudson," a moment's reflection 
convincing me that the quickest way to find them out was to let 
them know who we were. I then questioned them and ascer- 
tained that they were Logan's men. I asked if we could ap- 
proach. They replied that one of us could. I advanced and 
when within about five feet they ordered halt. We were dressed 
in Confederate officers' uniforms, which, doubtless looking blue 
at night, aroused some suspicion of deception. As I halted 
they asked whether we were armed. "Yes ; with pistol and 
cutlass," I replied, observing at the same time that they were 
armed with double-barrel shotguns. We had a hard time re- 
moving their suspicions as to ourselves, but they were finally 
convinced. Spending an hour or two with the "boys" we went 
on our way rejoicing, having been assured that there no Yan- 
kees ahead. W^e marched till daybreak when we heard, about 
twoi hundred yards to the left of the railroad, chickens crowing 
and somebody calling hogs. We went up, expecting the plan- 
ter to give us a good breakfast. We found an old negro man 
and asked him who lived there. He replied himself and old 
woman, stating that the white folks had all fled leaving him in 
charge of the place. Upon our asking for breakfast, he seemed 
glad to accommodate us, saying we could tell his old woman 
all about her young massa and the neighbors' boys who were 
soldiers at Port Hudson. The old woman soon had three chick- 
ens on the table at our service. The old man watched for Yan- 
kees while we ate breakfast. Nearly all three of the chickens dis- 
appeared before our ravenous appetites, as did likewise a gal- 
lon of buttermilk. Exchanging our parched corn for what 
of the old lady's breakfast was left, we bade her and the old 
man farewell and took the railroad. After traveling about a 
mile we turned aside into a swamp and slept all day — the first 
sleep for three days. That night we walked to Clintonville, 
about twenty miles ; and, our feet being worn out walking on 
crossties. we hired a conveyance to carry us about forty miles 
when we set out on foot for Waynesboro, Miss., our nearest 
railroad point. 

(155) 



108 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

Clements and myself arrived within about 30 miles of this 
town on Saturday evening, and decided to spend the Sabbath 
in this community. We were entertained by a pleasant fam- 
ily, and the old man and myself went to church. I bad to an- 
swer a thousand questions from the curious crowd that gath- 
ered around me. One man who had just heard of his son's 
being wounded at Jackson, said that he was going to the depot 
for him next morning, and proposed that if any of the crowd 
would furnish a horse or mule, he could fix a way for Clements 
and myself to ride. The arrangement being made, Clements, 
the old man, the negro boy and myself set out next morning 
for the railroad. On the route we stopped at an old house in 
an old field to^ eat figs. I never before or since have seen 
such quantities and such fine ones. As I rode around a very 
large bush I discovered some one on the opposite side with a 
bucket. He caught sight of my uniform and broke for the 
woods. It struck me in a moment that he was a deserter, and 
to have some fun, I took after him, occasionally firing my pis- 
tol over his head. After half a mile's run he dodged me in the 
woods. After this we proceeded on our journey until within 
seven miles of Waynesboro. Here we were caught in a thun- 
der storm, and sought shelter in a little house by the roadside. 
Riding rapidly up we threw our bridle reins over the corners 
of fences, and dashed into the house, frightening the old lady 
very much. After a great deal of persuasion she finally con- 
sented for us to sleep in the piazza. After the rain, we put our 
horses in the lot, but saw there was nothing with which to feed 
them except some green corn in the field. A feed of this for 
our horses we could neither beg nor buy of the old lady. I 
then told her that we would have to take it — that our stock 
must be fed. At this she became very wrathy and vowed 
vengeance if we cut her corn. I cut down the com and the 
negro boy and myself fed the horses. The old lady blamed 
me with it all. She offered Clements and' the old man a bed. 
but refused me even a quilt with which to make a pallet on the 
floor. However, I got the saddle blankets, spread them on the 
floor, and lay down. As the house had only one room the old 
lady went into the kitchen when we got readv to retire. Early 
next morning we resumed our journey, reaching Waynesboro 
two hours before train time. We went to the hotel and or- 
dered breakfast. The landlord said it would be readv in a few 

(156) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 109 

minutes. We had taken our seats in the gallery when a man 
called the landlord to the gate and had a long conversation. 
On his return I enquired how long till breakfast. He replied 
"presently," adding that it was half an hour before train time. 
We waited nearly an hour, talked about the war, etc. I found 
his name to be Lampley, formerly of Louisville, Barbour 
county, Ala. I knew his family and he knew my father well. 
As soon as he found out this he got up and said. "Now, I 
am satisfied you gentlemen are all right ; walk out to break- 
fast" He then stated that he had purposely kept breakfast 
waiting until the citizens in the neighborhood couldl get to- 
gether and take us — that the man who called him out was called 
in at the house seven miles back where VvC had spent the night, 
and the negro boy with us here said that we were Yankee spies. 
Lampley told us not to be surprised if we saw a party riding up 
to take us. We finished breakfast, and soon after about twenty 
men with shotguns and about fifty dogs came riding up to the 
hotel gate. Lampley met them, told them it was a false alarm, 
and to get down and laugh it off. When they found we had 
no papers, they said they would have swung us to the first 
limb, but for the timely correction of the mistake. The thought 
of being hanged by our own men within our own lines was 
most horrible. So Clements and I got some cowhides, took 
satisfaction out of the negroi on the horse block, and then went 
into the office and wrote each a leave of absence signed by our 
commanding general. The train soon arrived and we left for 
home, where we remained until the regiment was reorganized 
the following October at Cahaba, Ala., in parode camps. 

TRIP HOME FROM THE TENNESSEE RIVER. 

On our return from Hood's fateful campaign in Tennessee 
the army recrossed the Tennessee river during the early days 
of January, 1865, ^t Bainbridge, a few miles above Florence, 
Ala., and those of us who had no shoes, or shoes with no soles, 
were ordered dov/n the M. & C. R. R. on foot to Corinth, Miss. 
After a few days' detention at Corinth, during very hard 
weather and in miserable quarters, we were sent by rail to Lau- 
dierdale Springs, Miss., then a Confederate hospital. On our 
arrival we found several hundred of our barefoot, sick and 
wounded here. Each was working energetically for a fur- 

(157) 



110 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

lough, or transfer to hospitals nearer ihome, where he could 
get shoes, clothing, etc., and possibly a glimpse of the old home 
even if only for a few days, but few except the wounded were 
meeting with success. The latter were readily furloughed or 
transferred to any point they named, often without careful med- 
ical examination. About the second morning after our arrival, 
Ben Baker, of my company, came up to me when something 
like the following colloquy ensued, he asking the first question : 
"How would you like to have a thirty days' furlough 'stuck' to 
vou this morning?" "Have you one?" "Just got it a few 
minutes ago." "How did this happen?" "Why. when 
I reached this place, I reported as a wounded soldier, un- 
derwent my examination this morning as such, with the happy 
result, as you see, of a thirty-day furlough, one member of the 
board contending strongly for a sixty-day furlough." 

Baker had two large risings or boils on the calf of one of his 
legs, which at this time were beginning to heal, but looked in- 
flamed, and had left two cavities half an inch deep and resem- 
bling V€ry much a wound made by a minie ball that had struck 
and rebounded. With these he had fooled the medical board. 

As for myself, I wanted a transfer to Montgomery hospital, 
having no hope of a furlough, as I had no "wounds," as Baker 
had, upon which to base my application ; amd as the medical 
board declared its positive orders were to approve no furlough 
except to wounded, I had a rather hopeless case. A day or 
two later I learned that Dr. Ford, our surgeon at Barrancas in 
'6i, was now medical director of this department with head- 
quarters at Macon, Miss., about forty miles north of Lauder- 
dale. I made no formal application for a furlough, but wrote 
him a personal letter, stating who I was, the condition of 
my feet, to what regiment I belonged, mentioning the fact that 
I was with the regiment at Barrancas in 1861, and asked for a 
transfer to Montgomery, where I might obtain shoes, clothing, 
etc., from home, and of which I was in great need. Knowing 
how rigidly military men adhere to military forms, and this 
whole procedure of mine being contrary thereto, I had little 
hope of success and little reason to expect it. But to my delight 
the return mail brought my transfer. From the short time, 
the surgeon must have laid aside, for a few minutes, every other 
business matter to attend to my wants. To this day it brings 
me the greatest pleasure to recall this incident. I wrote him 

(158) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. Ill 

trying to express my gratitude, but felt my inadequacy for the 
task. Though I never knew him personally, except at sight, 
I have wished many a time since the war that I could meet him 
and clasp his hand. 

The next day I left for Meridian, where I changed cars for 
Montgomery. The railroad from this place to Demopolis was 
at this time in a deplorable condition, many miles of track being 
sunk out of sight in mud. The outgoing train to Demopolis, 
composed of freight boxes, was so crowded with soldiers, that, 
with others, I had to take a berth on top. At many places 
along the way the cars careened to such a degree in going 
throiugh cuts that the tops would nearly strike the walls of the 
cuts. Moreover, it was a bitter cold night. 

On reaching Demopolis, I went to the Soldiers' Home for 
lodging, and to my surprise found here Mike Brogan, the only 
Irishman that ever belonged to our company. He had some 
position in the home, having been disabled by a wound in the 
foot on the morning of May 27, 1863, at Port Hudson, La., 
since which time the company had lost sight of him and he of 
the company. As soon as he recognized me his Irish instinct 
gave vent to bountiful expressions of joy, shouting and throw- 
ing his arms around my waist. He carried me to a private 
room of the home and sat before me the best meal the home 
could furnish, but kept me awake nearly all night with questions 
about the "ups and downs" of the company, and the fate of dif- 
ferent comrades since we had left him in the hospital at Port 
Hudson in July, 1863. After I had told him of our hard ser- 
vice since then, the many battles in which we had been engaged, 
the manv comrades that had fallen in battle or by the hand of 
disease, his joy melted away into profound sadness, there was 
a long silence and he continued : "Ed, you know I always 
blamed you for this wound in my foot, and you don't knov/ 
how deeply grieved towards you I felt for a long time, feeling 
that you were indirectly, at least, the cause of the misfortune to 
me, and therefore the author of the greatest bodily injury ever 
done me ; but instead of being a calamity, it has been a blessing 
in disguise, for if I had not been wounded the chances are that 
I should not to-day be living." 

Brcgan was a young man with ideal Irish characteristics and 
temperament, and intensely loyal to the South. The coir.p.iny 
liked him. 

(159) 



112 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

The next morning I went by rail to Selma, passing throvgh 
the beautiful and fertile canebrake section. For n.iles ond 
miles along the road were continuous rail pens, each about ten 
feet square and twelve or fifteen feet high, full of corn paid by 
the farmers as a part of their tribute for the support of the 
Confederate Government ; and as we looked at this vast, amount 
of corn, we could not understand how there could be such 
stinted rations even of cornbread to the Confederate soldier, 
when it looked to me that here alone was enough corn to feed 
all the men and horses of the Confederate army for months. 
But the explanation is that our transportation facilities were 
wholly inadequate. Even "during those closing days of \he 
Confederacy" no destroying vandal hordes had set foot upon 
f'^rd blighted this fair section. To me just returned from deso- 
latt Tennessee the contrast was most striking, and as I locked 
cut across the broad, fertile plantations bounded in many ])laces 
only by the horizon, upon princely homes with every evidence 
of affluence and luxury about them and saw large bodies of 
sieves quietly as ever pursuing their daily labor, I silently ex- 
claimed in my heart : "Happy, thrice happy, even yet kiiouing 
nothing of the horrors of war." 

Reaching Selma I at once boarded a steamer for Montgoni- 
ery. arriving next morning, and at once reported at the hospital, 
where I found a Dr. Clark in charge. This hospital was situ- 
ated not more than one or two blocks west of the present new 
Advertiser office. I was assigned to a comfortable room. Here, 
as at Lauderdale, I found soldiers working for furloughs and 
transfers, but the surgeon here, as there, declared that he had 
positive orders to grant none. The next day I engaged him a 
while in conversation in his office, finally suggesting in as mod- 
est a way as I could that a furlough of one week out to my 
home near Percte would be appreciated. As I walked out of 
his office he told me to call early next morning. Having be- 
fore me the pleasing prospects of a furlough next day, I carried 
a lighl; heart to my room, and possibly fell asleep that night in 
blissful dreams of home and friends. It was late next morn- 
ing when I awoke. Arranging my Confederate toilet as quick 
as I could, I hastened down to the surgeon's office and haply 
found him alone. He at once began to write out my furlough, 
but had not half finished when a big crowd of soldiers came 
rushing up, each clamoring for a furlough. At this the sur- 

(160) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 113 

geon became indignant, and brushing aside, along with other 
stationery, the sheet on which he was writing my furlough, he 
said with some warmth : "I told you my orders were to give 
no furloughs, and I shall give none. Go back to your rooms," 
at the same time casting a glance at me that had the full signifi- 
cance of "and you get out of my office." I promptly and defer- 
entially obeyed the silent order, carr^-ing away a heart as heavy 
as it had been light, and greatly vexed with the crowd who, by 
their precipitancy, had caused me to lose my furlough. But 
the real cause of my misfortune was the fact of my having over- 
slept myself, and not till now did I fully understand the full 
import of the doctor's request "to come early" — before the other 
soldiers got up. Two days later I found the surgeon alone in 
his office, got my furlough, and a day later reached home. 

AT home; on Furlough. 

During the war it was the custom of the young ladies of Pe- 
rote to give, in the Institute, a social entertainment in honor of 
any young man of the Perote Guards returning home on fur- 
lough. On this occasion, as before, one was given in my honor. 
At this gathering I plainly saw that the ladies were becoming 
despondent of our ultimate success in the war. They tried to con- 
ceal it but the fact was too patent. They had not of course abated 
one jot or tittle of loyalty to the Confederacy. No community 
in the South loved the cause more than this, so much so that 
at the beginning of the war it went as a popular jest that if 
Alabama did not secede, Perote would. It was with the deep- 
est regret that I found such a state of afifairs at home. At the 
time I believed that there was no substantial foundation for this 
despondency, and had no doubt whatever of the final triumph 
of Southern arms. It seems to me now that I was totally blind 
to plain facts before me. It was thus with nearly every volun- 
teer of the Confederacy, especially those of 1861. But now the 
women who from start to finish had been the spirit of the war, 
seemed to be yielding to doubts and despondency. The inci- 
dent made upon me a profoundly sad impression, but I took 
them severely to task about these doubts, for I was somewhat 
wrought up, and told them that if all Southern women were 
sharing their fears, this alarm alone would ruin our cause; and 
I declared with earnestness my unshaken faith in the success of 
8 

(161) 



114 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

our arms, and that their fears were without foundation. And 
I then had no doubt of the truth of every word I uttered. 

When we look at the condition of the South at this time we 
wonder that anybody had hope. Our fields devastated, our 
cities and homes laid in ashes, hardly a family not mooiming 
the loss of a loved one, thousands of our citizens and comrades 
languishing and dying cf starvation in cold Northern prisons, 
our lines being forced back by overwhelming numbers of Fed- 
erals, our own slaives armed against us, and our resources ex- 
hausted. 

But more than any one of these causes, and more than' all 
others combined in fact, audi one of which very little account 
has been taken, had in our opinion thie most influence in lessen- 
ing the war spirit of the South. For two years preceding the 
end of the war there had beem a growing impression — unfound- 
ed, of course — that we could return to the Union with all our 
rights and property, that the war was being waged by the Fed- 
erals solely for the preservation of the Union. This delusion, 
owing its origin mainly to the activity of such well meaning 
Northern friends as \'allandigham of Ohio, did our cause more 
harm than Yankee bullets ; for it encouraged the hope for an 
honorable peace, when none ever existed. Not until the Confed- 
erates laid down their arms was the fact apparent that the war, 
on the part of the Federal government, had been waged from 
sectional hate, for conquest, despoliation and robbery. There 
would have been nO' surrender when there was, if we had had 
the faintest conception of what that surrender involved. 

Then, another cause for lessening the war spirit of the Soiith 
was the unwise substitute and exemption laws of the Confeder- 
ate congress. These were very unjust as well as unwise. They 
were unjust to the poor man who ow^ned no slaves ; equally un- 
just to the Confederate who was a slave-owner; and were de- 
moralizing because they w^ere unjust. 

SETS OUT TO REJOIX THE .\RMY. 

When my week's furlough had expired, I set out to rejoin 
mv command, then moving eastward through Georgia. I car- 
ried witJi me a young recruit, Archie Ardis, a youth of fifteen. 
He was a sensible, good-natured, intelligent lad, of one of our 
best families, and had been placed in my care. Reaching Ma- 

(162) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 115 

con, Ga., in the afternoon of the next day, I went to miHtary 
headquarters for further transportation, and was deHghtfuUy 
surprised to meet here Francis T. Chase and James T. Patter- 
son of my company. The former had been disabled by a wound 
in the arm during- the Georgia campaign the previous sum- 
mer, and was now a clerk in the office of the post commandant. 
The latter was on the same mission as myself. That night, 
seated around a good fine in the tent of Mr. Chase we talked 
until away after midnight of the condition of the country. At 
last I caused a sensation by saying: "I will express an opin- 
ion that you have never heard me utter before, because T have 
never entertained it before — but I believe our cause is lost!" 
Patterson and Chase looked at me in astonishment. There was 
a silence for several seconds when I resumed : "The women 
of the South have been the spirit of the war, and they are losing 
hope." After another long silence Chase replied: "If I 
thought as you I would lay down my gun and go home." My 
sensitive nature felt in this reply the sting of a mild rebuke, and 
I replied with warmth : "My fight henceforth will be vv^ith lit- 
tle hope, but never will I lay down my gun while there is a Yan- 
kee vandal on Southern soil." 

SKETCH Ol^ FRANCIS T. CH.^SE. 

I leave here the thread of my story to give a brief sketch of 
this remarkable private in the Confederate service — Francis 
T. Chase. Born and educated in Connecticut, a kinsman of 
Salmon P. Chase, one of the most scholarly men that ever came 
So'Uth to teachi, with extreme modesty, he was at the breaking 
out of the war a professor in Perote Institute, where, during 
the two years previous, he had been my preceptor. He weighed 
about ninety pounds, had a sallow complexion, and from every 
view physically you seldom meet a frailer-looking specimen of 
humanity. Had you seen him in the ranks of our company, 
Feb. 12, 1861, as we marched away from Perote to war, you 
would have judged him incapable of more than a month's ser- 
vice. Yet he was, throughout the four years' service of the 
company one of its most healthy and efficient members, never 
asking any favors, never seeking" an office, doing all sorts of 
army drudgery ; never making a complaint, twice wounded, 
always confident of our success, intensely loyal to the Southern 

(163) 



116 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

cause. Two or three years after the war he went into business 
in New Orleans, and was head clerk in the freight office of the 
Illinois Central railroad, until he retired about a year ago on a 
pension from the railroad. He then took up his residence at 
the Nichols Soldiers' Home of that city, where he died (1904) 
only a few months ago. During all these years he has been true 
to the South, and a liberal contributor to soldiers' homes, mon- 
uments. Confederate widows audi orphans. He was never mar- 
ried. 

NARRATIVE RESUMED. 

The next day "Cub" (Ardis) and myself resumed our jour- 
ney, reaching Milledgeville, Ga., late in the afternoon, during a 
down-pour of rain. For a month or more previous the rains 
had been excessive, and all the streams in a swell tide. Sher- 
man had destroyed the bridge over the Oconee river at Mil- 
ledgeville, and it had not been rebuilt. For temporary purpo- 
ses the authorities were exerting their utmost to stretch across 
the river pontoon bridges, but on account of high water were 
having no success. From this point we wanted to reach Au- 
gusta, Ga., which could be done only on foot, as the railroads 
thither were all torn up. However, it was given out that the 
pontoons would be across the river in a day or two. 

There being no soldiers' home here, I must seek lodging at 
a private residence. During the war it was the custom of 
Southern people to give lodging, meals and other help to Con- 
federate soldiers passing through their communities, and for 
several reasons the Confederate soldier felt that he was justly 
entitled to this consideration. 

Going up a street I soon came to a large residence on the 
right, walked up to the door and rang the bell. A fine looking 
old lady answered. She said she had but one vacant room and 
was daily expecting her son, who was wounded in \^irginia. 
But while she was standing in the door talking to me, her 
daughter, a beautiful brunette, of about sixteen, was standing 
just back of her mother, listening and looking, unobserv^ed I 
think, by her mother. I bade the old lady adieu, and as I 
walked out across the veranda, her daughter came running af- 
ter us, and saying that she wished to get some flowers from the 
hot house for us, and requesting that we stop a few minutes at 

(164) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 117 

the gate. She soon came with a pretty Httle bouquet for each ; 
and then, womanhke, began to ask questions. In the meanwhile 
a gloomy twilight was thickening about us, and as we stood 
at the gate, it was cold, and I had not forgotten that as yet I 
had no shelter for the night. I started to bid her "Good even- 
ing," but she replied with earnestness and emphasis : "No, not 
right now. Wait until I run and see my mother." I suspected 
that she would try to get her mother to entertain us, and I pro- 
tested earnestly. The truth is, I had concluded that her mother 
was not much of a Southern woman, or she would have given 
me some kind of a shelter, the best she could — even out in the 
veranda if she could do no better — and my feelings were quite 
averse to any further acquaintance with her. I believed that 
her statement that that large house had but one vacant room 
wais a mere excuse; and as to that wounded son in Virginia — 
oh well ; I had serious doubts about it all. I could not, how- 
ever, deny the daughter's request without discourtesy to her, 
and this I could not afford, and so I reluctantly yielded. She 
bounded away in a run, leaving my companion and myself at 
the gate. I hoped she would bring back a negative answer, for I 
didn't feel inclined at all to go back. I had no fears of being 
left out in the cold rain that night. There were too many good 
people in that town. In a few seconds she re-appeared in a 
run, as she had gone, and her face beaming with joy, gave me 
notice in advance that she had been victorious, and that I was 
vanquished. Indeed, I felt completely vanquished, for when 
I wanted to stay I couldn't; and then when I didn't want to 
stay, I was made to do it. She gathered up one or two of our 
bundles, and we started back, her sunny nature evidently de- 
lighted. I struggled to conceal my real feelings. The old 
lady met us at the door, gave us a kind) reception, and carried 
us up stairs to our room. The name of this lady was Mrs. Lit- 
tle (she was a widow) ; that of her daughter, Mollie. When 
I met the family and guests next morning at the breakfast ta- 
ble, I saw that I had wrongly judged Mrs. Little, for there was 
quite a number of guests — refugees, and I made in the pres- 
ence of the guests, a full confession of the injustice I had done 
her. All seemed to enjoy the incident, and Mrs. Little seemed 
to appreciate my frankness. 

That night Miss Mollie gave a card party which we enjoyed. 
The next night a neighbor of hers entertained at cards, and we 

(16 5) 



118 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

were so entertained ever}' night during the week we remained ; 
for we could not leave sooner on account of the pontoon bridge 
not having been put across the river. About the second or 
third day of our stay the "wounded son" from Virginia came 
in, but still we kept our rooms. We found this young man 
quite a help in our socials, young men at this time being scarce. 
I often recall with great pleasure the kindness of Mrs. Little, 
her son, and Miss Mollie. 

FORTUNE TELLING. 

I now come to relate an unimportant but the most striking 
co-incident of my whole life. The last night of our stay a card 
party was given at Mrs. Little's, and it was largely attended, 
mostly by young girls and young men. We played the usual 
games until a late hour, when we changed to "telling fortunes" 
with cards. The lass (about 15) with whom I had mostly 
played, after telling or foretelling when I would marry, the 
color of the eyes and hair of my wife-to-be, etc., asked me if I 
would like to have another furlough. I replied, "Yes, run these 
cards and tell me bow long before I shall get another." 
She dealt oflf the cards, and after consulting them declared I 
should get another furlough in a very short time. I replied 
that I didm't believe it, because I was returning from home on 
a furlough ; that I was going then to "head off" Sherman in 
the Carolinas, and that an early furlough for me was absurd. 
"You have consulted the wrong cards," I said, "try that again 
with the cards." She did so, and at the conclusion threw up 
her hands and shouted : "Oh, it will be no time hardlv be- 
fore you have another furlough." She went through all this 
with the most affected sincerity and gravity. "Impossible," I 
said. "You are a failure, I know, as a fortune-teller. Run 
these cards again." A third) time she ran the cards in refer- 
ence to my getting a furlough, the last time going into ecstacies 
of joy, and affirming with still more earnestness it would be 
almost no time before I received another furlough. The next 
morning Ardis and myself took leave of our kind friends, and 
set out on foot for Augusta. We had to pass down through 
the business part of the city, and here I met Lieut. Alex. Frier 
and Sergt. Hector McLean of my company returning as a spec- 
ial detail to Alabama. Lieut. Frier had been sent back on a 

(166) 



Reminiscences and Incidents. 119 

special service, and with authority and orders to detail two* non- 
commissioned! officers to assist him in his duties. He had al- 
ready detailed one (McLean), he lacked another and promptly 
detailed me. This would giv!e another furlough oif ten days at 
home. It had not been fifteen hours since the young lady with 
a pack of cards had foretold this ! Was there ever a more re- 
markable coincidence! With me the vexatious question was 
what to do with Ardis, for he was in total ignorance of my hav- 
ing been detailed. I had to leave him, an inexperienced youth, 
alone in a strange city. Would it be better to see him myself, 
tell him that I had to leave him, and try to reconcile him to his 
fate ; or would it be better to steal away from him and leave 
him to solve his own problems. I wanted to pursue the former 
course, my friends were decidedly oif the opinion that it would 
make matters tem times worse. So we stole away from him. 
About sundown that evening we left on the train for Alabama. 
I could not get Ardis off my mind, could not quiet my con- 
science. When he learned of all the particulars he was greatly 
hurt with me, but after reflection justified me, and approved of 
my course in doing so. 



(167) 



CHAPTER VIII. 



DEAD OF THE FIRST ALABAMA REGIMENT AT 

MADISON, WIS. ; and MRS. ALICE WHITING 

WATERMAN. 



In another place I have spoken fully of our prison life in 
1862. Here I shall pay a slight tribute to the brave men and 
boys of our command who fell in the first flush of the struggle, 
almost before the issues of the war had been fully presented, 
or before the combatants settled down to the grim years of 
sacrifice and achievement before them. 

The following is a list of Confederate dead buried in the 
Confederate cemetery at Madison, Wis., one hundred and five 
of whom belonged toi the First Regiment Alabama Volunteers, 
C. S. A., with company, regiment and date of death in 1862, 
re]>orted to the \\'isconsin State Historical Society by James 
R. Stuart, October, 1893. 

H. Falks, Company D, May 16. 
J. W. Gilmore, Company C, May 25. 
W. M. Ingraham, Company C. May 16. 
Samuel Coon, Company D, May i. 
Isham Crew, Company D, May 26. 
J. F. Smith, Company K, May 16. 
F. N. Hood, Company I, May i. 
Lee Calloway, Company E, May 16. 
T. H. Lochridge, Company D, May i. 
Henry Lloyd, Company I, June 12. 
Pierce Register, Company E, May 16. 
J. V. Stoyner, Company C, May 16. 
H. J. Stoner, Company D, May 7. 
W. Moore, Company H, May 27. 
John Wilkes, Company I, May i. 
David Benedict, Company E, June 12. 
W. H. Hadden, Company B, May 24. 
J. H. Strickland, Company C, May 10. 

(168) 



Dead at Madison, Wisconsin; Mrs. Waterman. 121 

J. B. Ubry, Company I, June 12. 
J. H. Beasiey, Company G, ]\Iay 24. 
W. J. Bard, Company C, May 16. 
John Larron, Company E, April 28. 
J. A. Mauerief, Company K, June 7. 
W. T. Earned, Company E, May 23. 
S. T. Oliver, Company C, May 14. 

D. D. Bird, Company I, May 6. 
h. Kniebe, Company C, June 11. 
Charles Mettier, Company — , May 23. 
Robert Riley, Company D, May 16. 
Henry Albritton, Company B, May 7. 
Joshua Browder, Company C, May 6. 
Davis McKibbon, Company F, June ii. 
B. F. Harrow, Company H, June 12. 
Benager Peacock, Company D, May 24. 
B. F. Mansell, Company G, May 14. 
John Brandon, Company H, May 7. 
Ham Infinfer, Company D, April 2. 
Henry Glisson, Company D, May 3. 

Ed Bates, Company G, April 21. 
W. B. Bracken, Company I, May 2y. 
S. M. Barber, Company C, May 22. 

E. Branning, Company C, May 12. 
Harvey Meader, Company F, May 3. 
J. M. McCaul, Company G, May 11. 
G. W. Spears, Company B, May 19. 
T. D. Fulton, Company G, May 10. 

J. K. Jones, Company H, May 3. 
J. J. Farmer, Company — , July 3. 
R. W. Clifton, Company G, June 13. 
John R. Holt, Company I, May 24. 
T. T. Demmins, Company I, May 10. 

, Company D, April 30. 

W. L. Peacock, Company D, June 23. 
G. S. Marquis, Company C, May 10. 
J. W. Andrews, Company E, June 11. 

, May 6. 

J. M. Edwards, Company E, May 16. 
S. J. Sager, Company D, May 23. 
Thomas Essry, Company H, May 13. 

af.9) 



122 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

J. G. Dawson, Company I, May 6. 
N. T. Rcardon, Company I, April 30. 
W. C. Watbews, Company E, April 28. 
Thomas Mims, Company D, May 6. 
N. J. Wicks, Company C, April 30. 
William Greene, Company H, June 4. 
P. L. Drinkard, Company B, May 23. 
A. L. Spears, Company B, May 13. 
N. Hollister, Company IT. April 30. 
F. L. Meucham, Company H, May 30. 
J. J. Gilmore, Company F, May 13. 
J. T. Morrison, Company C, May 5. 
T. C. Adams, Company K, April 30. 
J. E. Henr\-. Company K, jSlay 30. 
Wm. Smith, Company D, May 23. 

C. A. Hollingsworth, Company E, May 12. 
Thomas Cooper, Company F, June 3. 

J. H. Ross, Company I, May 30. 
J. R. White, Company I, May 3. 
Wm. Pipkcns, Company D, April 30. 
W. Christwood, Company L, May 29. 

D. M. Scott, Company F, May 30. 
F. Boykind, Company G, May 13. 
John Braden, Company D, May 5. 
Joshua Browder, Company G, May 30. 
Robert Taylor, Company D, May 22. 
J. M. Wylie, Company H, April 28. 
Joel Lodwick, Company D, April 28. 
R. S. Castlebury, Company I, May 29. 

, Company B, April 2. 

M. Grentham, Company D, May 5. 

C. Sissonly, Company C, April 2. 
J. P. Jamegan, Company F, May 29. 
J. H. Thuwers, Company G, May 19. 
Isaac Taylor, Company H. May 5. 
Thomas Kanmater, Company H, May 3. 
J. F. Codrick, Company H, April 20. 
William Brooks, Company G, April 27. 
Edward Smith, Company E, May 17. 
W. J. Russell. Company E, May 4. 

(170) 



Dead at Madiaon, Wisconsin ; Mrs. Waterman. 123 

William Ham, Company F, April 20. 
Thomas Ostine, Company E, May 2^. 
N. Smart, Company C, May 19. 
Samuel DePuster, Company G, June 19. 
Samuel Willis, Company H, May 25. 

HISTORY OF the; CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE SACRED SPOT 
WHERE THE HEROES SLEEP. 

The story of the care and custody of the graves of the fore- 
going', by Mrs. Alice W. Waterman should be given here, as a 
tribute to her heroic conduct and devoted attention. Fortu- 
nately I am able to do this through a report made by a com- 
mittee of the Confederate Veterans' Association of Washing- 
ton, D. C, extracts from which are here given. There is no 
survivor of our regiment who does not have for Mrs. Water- 
man a feeling of the profoundest gratitude and love. 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 

Hall of the 

Confederate Veterans' Association of Washington, 

D. C, Camp 171, U. C. V., 

December 2, 1897. 

Comrades : The committee appointed to report as to what steps 
should be taken in res]5ect to the 139 dead Confederate soldiers 
who lie buried in Forest Hill Cemetery at Madison, Wisconsin, 
have to report that they have investigated the records, so far 
as they are accessible, in reference to this matter and find the 
facts to be as follows : 

The operations around New Madrid, Missouri, and Island 
No. Ten, were carried on by about 7,000 Confederates on the 
one side, and about 28,000 Federal troops on the other. Be- 
sides these land forces the Federal army was assisted by a large 
flotilla of gunboats upon the Mississippi. It is not intended 
here to detail even briefly the operations which resulted in the 
capture of Island No. Ten, after an unusually severe siege of 
about six weeks, and after the greater portion of its garrison 

(171) 



124 P'irst Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

had evacuated it. Those who desire to read at length the mil- 
itary' history of that memorable occasion, will find the official 
reports of both sides in the 8th Volume of the War Records, 
Series i. It is sufficient to say here that the Confederate forces 
upon the Island and on the mainland numbered about 7,000, of 
which about 3,000 were on the island. 

In the volume of War Records just referred to, at page 
94, the strength of the Union forces operating against the 
island, seven days before its capture, is officially stated at 
18,547 officers and men present for duty. In the same volume, 
page 795, the official return of the Confederate force upon the 
island, present for duty, is 2,385 men on the 21st of March, 
which was seventeen days previous to its capture. When it 
was seen that the island must inevitably be taken, steps were 
begun to evacuate it, and accordingly on the night of the 6th 
of April, during a heavy rainstorm, about 6-7ths of the men 
succeeded after spiking most of the guns, in getting off in 
boats and rafts, and made their way to the Confederate lines. 
This was dbne, however, only after the disaster of New Mad- 
rid, where about 2,500 of our men were compelled to surrender 
to a force of about 15,000 of the enemy. The dispatch of Ad- 
miral Foote to the United States Secretary of War, dated April 
8th, and annoimcing the capture on the previous day of Island 
Number Ten, states the number that surrendered to him 
to be "17 officers and 368 privates, besides 100 of them sick." 
Of these five hundred men, nearly all were of the First Ala- 
bama Regiment ; one hundred and fifty only of that regiment 
having succeeded in getting 011 the island, the others remain- 
ing until it was too late. The First Alabama was commanded 
by Col. Isaiah G. W. Steedman. That he was a gallant officer, 
and his men among the very flower of their native State, the 
official reports alluded to clearly show. The regiment was, as 
its number indicates, probably the first regiment formed in the 
State at the breaking out of the war. We all know that in ev- 
ery Southern State, at that time, the men of these first regi- 
ments — the men who shouldered their guns at the first sound 
of the tocsin of war, were always among the best soldiers of 
the Coniederacy. Consequently we are not surprised to find 
the First Alabama frequently mentioned in the official reports 
of the transaction on Island Number Ten. Gen. Leonidas 
Polk, in a letter announcing to Gen. McCown the Confederate 

(172) 



Dead al: Madison, Wisconsin ; Mrs. Waterman. 125 

Commander of the islandl, that he had sent the First Alabama 
to reinforce him, speaks of the men as being among the best 
of Bragg's army. After the surrender of this Httle garrison 
to a force forty times its superior in numbers, they, with a 
large number of other Confederate prisoners, were sent North. 
A part were sent to Camp Douglass, near Chicago', and a 
smaller portion, which included these men of the First Ala- 
bama, were sent to Camp Randall near Madison, Wisconsin. 
They remained there, however, but about three months, when 
they were sent elsewhere, and it is believed were shortly after- 
wards exchanged. During this period of three months, 139 
of these men died, no being of the First Alabama. Their 
deaths were undoubtedly the results of the suffering and con- 
stant exposure they had undergone in their heroic defense of 
Island Number Ten, which during the siege was constantly 
flooded in consequence of freshets of the Mississippi river, the 
men being often compelled, as the official reports state, while 
manning the guns of the batteries, to stand for hours knee 
deep in the chilly waters of the river, for the siege was during 
the month of March. (See the report of Gen. Trudeau com- 
manding Artillery at Island Number Ten, March 29, 1862, 
Vol. 8, Series i. War Records, page 150.) Elsewhere we 
have given the names of these dead heroes. As they died, 
sometimes at the rate of ten a day, thev were laid side by side 
in a plot of ground on the edge of Forest Hill Cemetery, and 
that spot soon became known to the people of Madison, Wis- 
consin, as "Confederate Rest." And rest it was indeed, to 
these poor fellovv^s, who, succumbing to the hardships of war, 
laid them down in their last sleep, martyrs to the cause they 
loved. For nearly five years after the war the site of those 
graves was almost forgotten. Among strangers who could 
not be expected to sympathize with the sentiments which had 
imbued these boys in gray and led them tO' offer their lives upon 
the altar of their country, it would perhaps, in time, have be- 
come completely obliterated but for the fact that there came to 
live at Madison, Wisconsin, a widowed, southern-born woman 
— Mrs. Alice W. Waterman of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She 
learned of this lonely little corner in Forest Hill Cemetery and 
expended of her means to beautify it. How she did it, let 
the people of Madison, whose sympathies she awoke for these, 
our dead comrades, tell us, as we find it in the Wisconsin State 

(173) 



12G First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

Journal of May 29, 1885, published at Madison, and from 
which we now quote : 

"The knowledge of the fact that manj' of her countrymen lay 
neglected and almost forgotten among strangers at the North, far 
removed from the homes of their youth and the loving care of those 
to whom they were near and dear, touched a tender spot in the 
heart of the lady, and she resolved to do what lay in her pov/er to 
beautify the resting place of the strangers. She heaped up neat 
mounds over each grave, planted trees in the plat and an evergreen 
hedge along the east and south sides, cleared away the weeds, trim- 
med the grass, and had a rude board fence, which has since been 
removed, constructed around the plat. Then 'she secured head 
boards, had them appropriately inscribed with the names of the 
dead, their company and regiment, as v.ell as the date of death. 

"Her work was commenced during the time Gen. Lucius Fair- 
child was Governor, and that gentleman displayed the charity of 
a true soldier for a fallen enemy, by doing various little acts of 
kindness tending to aid Mrs. Waterman in the work which her 
sympathetic nature inspired. Gov. Washburn, who succeeded Gov. 
Fairchild, went a step further than his predecessor in office, for 
upon a Memorial Day, when he was the State's Chief Executive, 
he led a party of old Union soldiers into Confederate Rest, and 
with his own hands strewed floral offerings upon the graves of the 
boys in gray. This custom has been generally followed since it was 
established. Gov. Washburn was the first Chief Executive in any 
of the Northern States to exhibit such charity, but his conduct has 
since been very generally emulated where Union and Confedera'e 
soldiers lie buried together. Hon. B. J. Stevens, while acting as 
Mayor of Madison last year, showed great kindness to Mrs. Water- 
man, and offered to assist her in any manner he was able, while 
the Cemetery Commissioners — Gen. C. P. Chapman, Deming Fitch 
and Darwin Clark — have of late years been very thoughtful in their 
attentions. 

"Mrs. Waterman has an affectionate way of referring to the 
buried Confederates, whose graves she guards so tenderly, as 'My 
boys.' She says she planted the hedges around the plat to 'keep 
the cold wind off my boys,' and it affords her pleasure to know 
that when the sun rises in the morning, it shines warmly in the 
faces of 'my boys.' She planted white lilac amid the graves, be- 
cause they will blossom even if she is 'not there to watch them,' 

(174) 



Dead at Madison, Wisconsin ; Mrs. Waterman. 127 

and her object in setting out two butternut trees was, as she puts 
it, so 'that the children will go there to gather the nuts, and thus 
make the place more pleasant by their presence.' " 

Closely adjoining this cemetery of our dead comrades lies 
a cemetery of Federal dead, and we are infonr^ed that for many 
years it has been the custom on Decoration day to hold mem- 
orial exercises in the open spaces between these two burial 
spots, and at their conclusion to decorate the graves of Federal 
and Confederate dead alike. For this beautiful and touching 
tribute accorded by Union soldiers to their one-time foemen 
we tender our full-hearteid acknowledgments, and say to them 
that they have, by their kindly remembrance of our comrades, 
given a fresh illustration to the saying of the ancient Tusculan 
that: 

"V/hoever is brave should be a man of great soul." 

But if those who- were once our enemies have through all 
these years not forgotten our dead, is it not time that we should 
remember them? Is it not time that we place above those lit- 
tle mounds, which the coming years must eventually waste 
away, a more enduring memorial than the perishable flowers 
placed there by the imipulsive hands of friendly strangers ? 

Mrs. Waterman died on the 13th of September last, (1897), 
at Madison. At her funeral was delivered the beautiful ser- 
mon, an extract from which is appended to this report. We 
have learned that it was the ambition of this good lady for over 
twenty-five years of her life to some day see a monument of 
granite erected in the midst of these graves whereon should 
be carved the names of these dead soldiers of the South, but 
hier efiforts were futile. She, herself, by the vicissitudes of for- 
tune, had lost her entire means, and the people of her native 
land were poor and struggling under adverse circumstances to 
recuperate their broken fortunes, soi the monument was never 
erected, but she continued toi see after and care for the graves. 
And now that she is dead, who shall see to it that this monu- 
ment be built? Who shall see to it that this spot where these 
men lie, the furthest north of any of our buried comrades, shall 
be marked with a token to all who shall see it that we have not 
forgotten our dead ? As Southern men we should hide our 
heads in shame if, after knowing the facts which we now know, 
we should fail to see to it that this monument be built with 
the names upon its face, not only of these men who' lie buried 

(175) 



1'28 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

so far away from their own southland, and for love of which 
they fought and suffered and died, but the name also of this 
noble Southern w^oman, Alice Waterman, the patriotic care- 
taker of their graves for so many years, and who now sleeps 
with them, a heroine among heroes. 

Comrades, your committee have to report in conclusion that 
this Association having had the honor to be the first among 
the Associations of ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors, to have 
this matter brought to their attention, should be among the 
first to take immediate steps toward the work of procuring 
means to erect this monument, and thereby perpetuate the 
names of these men and of the noble woman who for so long 
a time had faithfullly kq^t green their graves. Your com- 
mittee, therefore, submit for adoption the following resolu- 
tion: 

Resolved, Thai the committee having in charge the matter of 
the Confederate dead who lie buried in Forest Hill Cemetery at 
Madison, Wis., be, and they are, hereby empowered with authority 
to proceed in such manner as they may deem proper and expedi- 
ent to procure the means for the erection of a monument over their 
graves, and that it report, from time to time, what progress they 
have made thereat. 

We have annexed to this report, besides a list of the dead 
with the names of the commands to which they belonged, a 
letter to the Chairman of the Committee by Mr. Hugh Lewis, 
a brave rederal soldier of the Second Wisconsin Regiment, 
who lost his arm at the second battle of Manassas. To him 
this Association is greatly indebted for the first information 
which came to it in regard to this matter. Mr. Lewis has for 
many years been a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, and was a 
warm friend of Mrs. Waterman. To him we are also indebted 
for the excellent photograph of that noble lady, and of the cem- 
etery where lie buried these 139 Confederate soldiers. 

In addition to his letter we have also annexed an extract 
from a copy of the funeral oration delivered over the body of 
Mrs. Waterman before burial among "her boys" and also 
copies of several articles from the Madison newspapers bearing 
upon the subject of this report. These articles show a more 
than excellent spirit on the part of the good people of Madison 
and encourage us to believe that in that city at least, the war 
with all its animosities, has long been at an end,* 

♦The sevf.ral extracts referred to are too long for insertion, and 
are omitted. 

(176) 



CHAPTER IX. 



OFFICIAL REPORT OF COL. (SURGEON) I. G. W. 

STEEDMAN ; AND HIS REMINISCENCES OF 

PRISON LIFE. 



An "authentic" statement for the Tribune. While awaiting 
Mr. Greeley's acceptance or rejection of the proposition that 
was made to him in our issue of yesterday in reference to the 
treatm.ent of prisoners of war in federal prisons, we are anx- 
ious to give him further evidence of the truth of the statements 
we have published, in order to strengthen the appeal to his be- 
nevolence and sense of justice. We, therefore, give editorial 
prominence to the following letter, which we guarantee is a 
faithful copy O'f the original written by the subscribing parties 
and addressed and delivered to the Colonel commanding the 
post at Johnson's Island : 

Prison Hospital, Johnson's Island, 

November i6, 1864. 

Colonel : The undersigned, officers of the Confederate 
States Army (prisoners of war) are in times of peace practic- 
ing physicians. We are now acting as surgeons to cur prison 
hospital. 

We adopt this method of informing you, (if you are not 
already informed of it), that the prisoners confined here are 
suffering seriously from want of food. 

1st. We make this painful announcement from our personal 
experience, and observation among our comrades. 

Food is the constant theme of conversation among them, and 
we are repeatedly told, "We are hungry ; we do not get enough 
to eat." Instances are not infrequent of repulsive articles be- 
ing greedily devoured; rats, spoiled meat, bones, bread from 
the slops, etc. 
9 

(177) 



130 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

Secondly : We wish to demonstrate to you from physiolog- 
ical data, that the ration issued is insufficient to maintain health. 
Prof. Dalton says : "With coffee and water for drink, we 
have found that the entire quantity of food required during 
twenty-four hours, by a man in full health, and taking free ex- 
ercise in the open air, is as follows : 

Meat (Butchers) . . 16 ounces avoirdupois. 

Bread 19 ounces avoirdupois. 

Butter, or fat 3^ ounces avoirdupois 

38^2 ounces avoirdupois. 

That is to say, rather less than two and a half pounds of solid 
food." (See Dalton's Physiology, page 115.) 

Col. Hoffman, Commissary General of Prisons, in his pub- 
lished order regulating the ration of prisoners of war, estab- 
lished the following: 

Porli or bacon 10 ounces in lieu of fresli beef 

Fresh beef 14 ounces 

Flour or soft bread 16 ounces 

Hard bread 14 ounces in lieu of flour or soft bread 

Corn meal 16 ounces in lieu of flour or soft bread 

Beans or peas 12 '^ pounds 1 

Rice or hominy 3 pounds i 

Soap 4 pounds ' 

Vinegar 3 quarts y to 100 rations 

Salt 4 ^ pounds! 

Potatoes 15 ounces \ 

Water 52 ounces j 

Accompanying this communication, we enclose the abstracts 
of rations actually received, during the month of October for 
the first and second divisions of the prison. The abstracts have 
been carefully prepared for this purpose by the chiefs of those 
divisions from their memoranda, taken at the time of issue. 
By carefully estimating the average daily ration in ounces of 
solid food, from these abstracts for October, you will find that 
each prisoner received 28l/> ounces. 

Colonel Hoffman's order allows him about },AV-2 ounces. 

(178) 



Confederate Prisoners of War. 131 

Prof. Dalton would give himi 38^ ounces. Your com- 
missary, therefore, lias given us ten ounces less thian the phys- 
iological requirements of health, and six ounces less than Col. 
Hoffman's order. 

This deficit of six ounces is the result — 

I St. of a short issue of bread of about 1.5 ounces 13/2 oz. 

2d. of a short issue of bread or peas, rice or hominy and 
and potatoes (only one, instead oif three, having 
been issue daily) 3^ oz. 

3rd. no issue of meat at all for three days i oz. 



o oz. 

As to the quality of the ration issued for October : The 
bfeef consisted almost entirely of fore-quarters, neck and shank, 
the large proportion of bone reducing the actual meat received 
nearly one-half, or to seven ounces (7 oz.) Salt beef and 
iish, now issued aboiit twice a week, are not included in Col. 
Ploffman's published order, as a part of the rations. Salt fish, 
with our want of facilities for properly preparing them, make 
a most unpalatable dish, and from the testimony of our com- 
rades, are only used from dire necessity, tO' satisfy the cravings 
of hunger. Moreover, salt fish and salt beef do not contain 
sufficient oil or fat, to answer the requirements of health dur- 
ing winter in this latitude. 

Though Col. Hoffman's order falls short o^f the physiolog- 
ical requirements of a man in health, by three and a half ounces, 
yet we believe if his order be faithfully executed, health can be 
maintained for a long while, considering the limited amount of 
exercise generally taken by prisoners. 

But, Colonel, it is our solemn conviction that if the inmates 
of this prison are compelled to subsist for the winter upon this 
reduced ration of ten ounces less than health demands, and six 
ounces less than Col. Hoffman's order allows, all must suffer 
the horrors of continual hunger, and many must die from the 
most loathsome diseases. As physicians, we ask you for hu- 
manity's sake, to compel your commissary to do his duty faith- 
fully and honestly, by issviing the ration we are entitled to. 

As officers and prisoners of war, demand it. 

Relying upon your early attention to this urgent and impor- 
tant subject, we are, 

(179) 



132 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

Respectfully yours, etc., 
(Signed) I. G. W. Steedman, M. D., 

Ccl. 1st Regt. Ala. Vol. 
(Signed) L. E. Locke, M. D., 

Capt. 53d Ala. Cavalry. 
(Signed) G. Troup Maxwell, M. D., 

Col. 1st Florida Cavalry. 
Acting Surgeons, Prison Hospital. 
To Colonel Palmer, Commanding Post. 
This is a true copy of the original. 
St. Louis, May 31, 1891. 

L G. W. Steedman, M. D., 

Col. 1st Regt. Ala. Vols. 

As Mr. Greeley has kindly offered the use of the columns of 
the "Tribune" to prisoners of war for the publication of state- 
ments of grievances, we hope that he will publish the above 
letter. 

military prison history, and incidents — memoranda sup- 
plied BY COL. steedman. 

"After the surrender at Port Hudson, ail the commissioned 
officers of the garrison, about 160 in number, were sent by 
steamboat to New Orleans as prisoners of war. On our way 
down the river we schemed to overpower our guards and cap- 
ture the boat, but no proper opportunity offered. We were 
confined in New Orleans nearly two months, first in the cus- 
tom house and then in Mr. Conner's residence, a wealthy 
banker. Gen. Banks treated us with all possible consideration 
compatible with the rules of war. Upon request we could ob- 
tain paroles to attend social gatherings given by citizens. The 
people of New Orleans overwhelmed us with the kindest at- 
tentions. Many of us were suffering witu malaria, contracted 
during the siege. The surgeons and physicians of the city 
visited our prison and gave us gratis all needed medical atten- 
tion. 

"In September, 1863, we were sent by sea to Governor's 
Island, New York harbor, thence by rail to Johnson's Island, 
in Lake Erie. We had left this prison for exchange about one 
year previously. We found the situation materially changed. 

(180) 



Confederate Prisoners of War. iB3 

Many more prisoners occupied the buildings. Officers cap- 
tured upon many battlefields were confined here. Public senti- 
ment throughout the North was more embittered towards the 
South, and prisoners were made to feel it upon all possible oc- 
casions. The Winters of 1863 and 1864 were very severe 
upon those of us from the extreme South. We were poorly 
clad for such a rigorous climate, and housed in such flimsy 
buildings. The prison soon became very much crowded as 
disaster met our armies. During 1864 and 1865 the average 
number of officers confined here was about 3,000, at one time 
reaching 3,200. 

"Soon after reaching Johnson's Island, at the reqest of the 
prisoners, and by consent of the prison authorities, ^ol. Steed- 
man was put in medical and surgical charge of our prison hos- 
pital, the Colonel being, as already stated, an M. D., having 
graduated in the class of 1859 from the University of Louis- 
iana at New Orleans. He, with his four assistants (one of 
whom was Capt. L. E. Locke of Alabama Cavalry) also line 
officers as well as M. D.'s, were thus enabled to perform valua- 
ble service to fellow prisoners. 

"The great subject of thought and private talk among pris- 
oners, was how to escape prison and get to 'Dixie,' to rejoin) 
our comjnands in the field. We were secretly organized into 
companies and regiments and ever ready to take advantage of 
any opportunities offered. All manner of schemes were dis- 
cussed, many of them foolhardy and impracticable. The only 
feasible one was planned by Lieut.N^eal^ of Virginia which 
involved an expedition from Canada to capture passenger boats 
on the lake, seize the United States gunboat Michigan, pris- 
oners to overpower the prison guards and take their arms. 
Escorted by the Michigan we were to land in the vicinity of 
Cleveland, Ohio, and make a desperate dash for West Vir- 
ginia. The plan was partially executed, but not to- completion. 
Lieut. Beale was afterwards courtmartialed and htung. 

"The winter of 1864 and 1865 was especially severe and 
hard upon the Johnson's Island prisoners. It was extremely 
cold, the thermometer reaciimg 20 degrees below zero. 

"The furor raised in the North by the alleged cruel treat- 7^ 
ment of Libby and Andersonville Federal prisoners led the 
Washington government to retaliate in a manner on Johnson's 
Island prisoners who were all officers. Our rations were re- 

(181) 



134 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

duced to a minimumi compatible with life. Disease became 
broadcast among us, especially chronic bowel diseases, scurvy 
and erysipelas. Scores of cases of scurvy occurred through- 
out the prison, thie result of insufficient quantity and quality 
of food. When the attention of the Federal surgeons was 
called to this deplorable condition of the prisoners, extra ra- 
tions were given us, consisting chiefly of the fresh vegetables 
of the season. In a few weeks all scurvy disappeared. This 
is a proof positive of the insufficiency of our food. 

"The above facts are contained in an official protest made 
by our hospital surgeons at the time. All exchanges of pris- 
oners had ceased since 1863, except the desperately sick, who 
were sent home to die. The policy had been openly adopted 
to imprison and feed us, rather than exchange and fight us 
again. This barbarous policy resulted in the inhuman impris- 
onment of tens of thousands of Confederates and Federals. 
Our efficient and most gentlemanly commissan-. Capt. Brad 
Sullins, died in the prison hospital during this winter. He is 
buried in the Confederate cerneter\' on Johnson's Island with 
our other dead. Smallpox also broke out in the prison, re- 
quiring the building of a i>est-house in one corner of the yard, 
and our Confederate surgeons also had charge of these cases. 
By judicious isolation and vaccination, the disease was kept in 
control, the nurses being officers who had previously had small- 
pox. 

CAPT. J. R. MACBETH CONTRIBUTES TwENTY-TWO THOUSAND 
DOLLARS FOR THE RELIEF OF FELLOW-PRISONERS. 

Col. Steed man pays the following tribute to his deceased col- 
lege-mate and prison comrade, Capt. J. R. Macbeth of the ist 
South Carolina Artillery. While an inmate of the prison he 
was dangerously ill, and was nursed to health in the prison 
hospital. He was so grateful for this service, that he became 
a nurse in the hospital for many months. Later lie was made 
hospital steward. Capt. Macbeth was lucky in having a 
wealthy father, then mayor of Charleston, S. C. In his own 
right the Captain had large funds in New York and Liverpool 
as a stockholder in a blockade nmning company. He donated 
twenty-twx) thousand dollars for the relief of his fellow-pris- 
oners, besides lending money to many others. He received a 

(1S2) 



Confederate Prisoners of War. 185 

special exchange through Gen. Sherman, rejoined his com- 
mand and lost an arm at Bentonville, N. C, the last battle of 
the war. 

"In the spring of 1865 the Port Hudson prisoners were or- 
dered to City Point, near Richmond, for exchange. Joyfully 
we boarded box cars for Baltimore, thence by steamship to City 
Point. On the Chesapeake bay the ship was enveloped in fog 
and lay at anchor many hours. Smallpox broke out in the 
hold among 500 or more sick and wounded prisoners ; also 
gangrene attacked the wounds of the poor cripples. Col. 
Steedman was again called upon to take charge of this "pest 
hole," doing his duty to the best of his ability. He regards 
this as the most crucial test of his physical and moral courage 
during the war. 

"To our dismay we were landed at Point Lookout in Chesa- 
peake Bay, a great Federal hospital and prison. Here we 
learned that the military operations around Petersburg had 
stopped this proposed exchange. We were at Point Lookout 
when President Lincohi was assassinated. W^ilkes Booth, the 
assassin, retreated down the Potomac, and the negro guards 
over us conceived the idea that we prisoners had some connec- 
tion with the assassination. I was most reliably infonned that 
the white officers of this negro command had great difficulty in 
restraining them from butchering us. I felt the danger most 
acutely at the time. At night in my hearing a negro sentinel 
called out to us, 'hush up there, you d — d rebels, or I will send 
a bullet 'searching' among your guts ;' we were only talking in 
a low tone in our quarters. 

"From. Point Lookout we were sent to Fort Delaware in 
Delaware»bay, and kept in imprisonment until the close of the 
war. My brotbJer, Capt. S. D. Steedman, and myself, were re- 
leased on June 28, 1865. -^ book could be written on this sub- 
ject of imprisonment and the heroic fortitude with which our 
First Alabama officers endured their hard fate. We were' cut 
ofiF from' all hope of deserved promotion in rank, which hope is 
dear to all soldiers. 

"The only consolation our friends can take in this imprison- 
ment of nearly two and a half years is that many of us, if ex- 
changed, would have died on the battlefield, where so many of 
our beloved comrades now lie in unknown graves." 

(183) 



INDEX. 



The references are to the numbers at the top of the page. The 
numbers at the bottom of each page are the consecutive numbers 
for the entire Bulletin series. 



Adams, Gen., 87. 
Adams, T. C, 122. 
Advertiser, Montgomery, 12. 
Alabama Rifles, Talladega, 10, 

13, 20, 27, 33. 
Albritton, Henry, 121. 
Amusements, 62. 
Anderson, Gen. R. H., 3, 27, 32. 
Andrews, J. W., 121. 
Andrews, Lt. W. A., 78, 79. 
Arkansans outgeneraled, 95. 
Ardis, Archie, 114, 119. 
Arms, 62. 
Artillery, Confederate, 21. 

At Island No. Ten, 35. 
Asleep at his post, 97. 
Augur, Gen. C. C, 57. 
Authorities. 

Names of works used, 10. 

Baker, Capt. Alpheus, 13. 

Banks, Gen., 58, 62, 64, 66. 

Barber, S. M., 121. 

Bard, W. J., 121. 

Barrancas Barracks, 14, 16, 24, 

30, 33, 34. 
Bates, Ed., 121. 
Beale, Lt., 133. 
Beall, W. N. R., 48, 50, 58, 61. 
Beasley, J. H., 121. 
Beauregard, Gen. P. T., 81. 
Beef heads, 96. 
Benedict, David, 120. 
Bentonsville, N. C, 94. 
Bethune, D. S., 10. 
Bibliography. 

Authorities used, 10. 
Bird, D. D., 121. 
Bledsoe, F. P., 10. 
Blue, P. J., 98. 
Bonnie blue flag, 21-2. 
Boone's battery, 52. 
Boykind, F., 122. 
Bracken, W. B., 121. 
Braden, Jno., 122. 
Bradford, John. 

Letter of, 44. 



Bradford, steamer, 27. 

Bragg, Gen. Braxton, 13, 23, 27, 
32, 38. 

Brand, Maj. J. L., 53. 

Brandon, Jno., 121. 

Branning, E., 121. 

Breckinridge, Gen. J. C, 55. 

Brewer's Alabama. 
Cited, 10, 50. 

Brogan, Mike, 98. 111. 

Brooks, Bryant, 78, 79. 

Brooks, William, 122. 

Browder, Joshua, (Co. C), 121, 

Browder, Joshua (Co. G.), 122. 

Brown, Col., 27. 

Brown, Gen., 87. 

Bullock, B. C, 15, 16. 

Bushwhackers, infamous char- 
acter of, 82-3. 

Caldwell, Dr. J. D., 13. 

Calloway, Lee, 120. 

Camp Butler, prison, 39-41, 43, 45, 

Camp Douglas, prison, 39, 125. 

Camp Randall, 125. 

Carmichael, D., 32. 

Carolina campaign, 93-4. 

Surrender of army, 94. 
Carondelet, gunboat, 37. 
Castlebury, R. S., 122. 
Cedar Point, 72. 
Chalmers, Col., 27. 
Chappell, Sam, 87. 
Chase, Prof. F. T., 103. 

Sketch of, 115. 
Christwood, W., 122. 
Clayton Guards, 13, 20, 102. 
Clayton, Bertram, 17. 
Clayton, Henry D., jr., 17. 
Clayton, Gen. Henry D., 13. 

Sketch of, 17, 
Clark, Dr., 112. 
Clark, Capt. John, 13. 
Cleburne, Gen. Pat., 87. 
Clements, Wm. F., 102-3. 
Clifton, R. W., 121. 
Cochran, Judge John, 15, 16. 

(185) 



138 



First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 



Cockrell, Gen., 87. 

Codrick, J. F., 122. 

Companies of 1st Ala. regiment, 
13, 32-3. 
See also particular names. 

Confederate Military History. 
Cited, 12, 50. 

Confederate Veterans' Associa- 
tion, Washington, D. C, 123. 

"Confederate Rest," 39. 

Conyers, Capt. Y. D., 13. 

Coon, Samuel, 120. 

Cooper, Thomas, 122. 

Crew, Isham, 120. 

Curry, Dr. Walter, 13. 

Custer, Gen.. 87. 

Dabney, Lt., 60. 

David, President Jefferson, 81. 

Dawson, Capt. Geo. W., 13. 

Dawson, J. G., 122. 

Dead, Confederate, at Madison, 
Wis., 120-3. 

DeGournay's battalion of artil- 
lery, 49, 57, 61. 

Decatur, skirmish at, 81. 

Demmins, T. T.. 121. 

Dent. Capt. S. H., 13. 

Department of Archives and 
History of Ala., 5, 9, 10, 12. 

DePuster, Samuel, 123. 

Dewey, Admiral George. 
Letter from, 56-7. 

Dr. Beatty. transport, 53. 

Drinkard, P. L.. 122. 

Dykes, Owen, 101. 

Earned, W. T., 121. 
Edwards. J. M., 121. 
Essry, Thomas, 121. 
Eufaula Pioneers. 13, 21, 32. 
Eufaula Rifles, 13, 32. 
Evans, Gen. Clement A. 

Conf. Mil. History, 10, 50. 
Ewing, steamer, 27. 

Fairchild, Gov. Lucius, 126. 
Falks, H.. 120. 
Farmer, J. J., 121. 
Farragut. Commodore D. G., 

52, 53. 
First Regiment, Ala. Vol. Inf'ty. 

Amusements, 52. 

Arms, 62. 

Bentonsville fight, 94. 

Companies of. 13, 32-3. 

Decatur skirmish, 81. 

Dead of, 120-3. 



Drill, 16. 

Enlistment, 13, 72. 

Flags, 23. 

Food, 51, 67, 96. 

History of, 9-12. 

Island No. Ten, 34. 

Meridian, Mobile and Geor- 
paign, 71. 

Numbers at Port Hudson, 49. 

Officers, 13, 33. 

Organization, 13. 

Paroled, 69. 

Pensacola campaign, 13. 

Personnel, 15. 

Port Hudson campaign, 48, 71. 

Prison life, 39-46, 129. 

Reminiscences of, 95. 

Reorganization. 32. 

Retreat from Tenn., 92. 

Reunion. 11. 

Sickness, 24, 40, 67. 

Surrender, final, 94. 

Tennessee campaign, 82. 

Uniformed, 23. 
Flags, 23. 
Fleet, Federal. 

Pensacola attacked by, 29-30. 

Port Hudson attacked by, 52-7. 
Foote. Maj. H. S., 36. 
Ford, Dr., 110. 
Forest Hill cemetery, Madison, 

Wis., 123-5. 
Forrest. Gen. N. B., 85. 
Fort Barrancas, 14, 16, 20, 21, 

30, 34. 
Fort Delaware, 135. 
Fort Gaines, 72. 
Fort McRee, 14, 21, 28, 29, 30. 
Fort Pickens, 14, 15, 18, 21, 24, 

27-8. 
Fort Powell, 72. 
Fort Redoubt, 14. 
Fox, D. J., 18. 
Franklin, battle of, 84. 
Fulton, T. D., 121. 

Gardner, Gen. Franklin, 48, 58, 

59, 61, 62, 66. 68. 
Georgia campaign, 1864. 

Atlanta reached, 75. 

Charge of 1st Ala., 80. 

Evacuation of Atlanta, 81. 

Fourth of July celebration, 74. 

Hood supersedes Johnston, 75. 

Hood attacks Sherman, 76. 

March across North Ala., 81. 

Regiment joins Tennessee 
army, 72. 



(186) 



Index. 



139 



Retreat, 73-5. 

Tragic incidents, 77-9. 
Gibson, Jack, 22, 52. 
Gilmore, J. J., 122, 
Gilmore, J. W., 120. 
Gist, Gen., 87. 
Gladden, Gen. A. H., 13. 
Glisson, Henry, 121. 
Goodlet, D. Z., 10. 
Granbury, Gen., 87. 
Gratiot Street prison, St. Louis, 

41. 
Grantham, M., 122. 
Guards of the Sunny South, 

13, 33, 93. 
Greene, Wm., 122. 

Halbert, Henry S. 

Thanked for assistance, 12. 
Haley, Lt. A., 77. 
Ham, William, 123. 
Hamilton, Dr. J. C, 32. 
Harrison, Dora, 19, 41. 
Harrison, James, 41. 
Harrow, B. F., 121. 
Henry, J. E., 122. 
History of 1st Regt., Ala. Vol. 
Inf'ty. 

Authorities, 10. 

Part of a series, 5. 

Preparation, 9. 

Records of, 10. 

Reunion, 11. 

Scope of work, 11. 

Col. Steedman endorses, 12. 
Hoffman, Col., 130. 
Holt, Jno. R., 121. 
Hood, F. N., 120.- 
Hood, Gen. J. B., 75, 80, 83, 86, 

87, 92. 
Hospital at Montgomery, 112. 
Hollingsworth, C. A., 122. 
Hollister, N., 122. 

Indianola, gunboat, 53. 
Infinfer, Ham, 121. 
Incidents, 95. 
Ingraham, W. M., 120. 
Iron-clads at Port Hudson, 52. 
Isbell, Capt. R. H., 33, 48, 50. 
Island No. Ten campaign, 1862. 

Attacked, 36. 

Fall of, 38. 

Fortification, 35-6. 

Location of, 35. 

Pensacola evacuated, 34. 

Sickness at, 40. 

Trip to Island No. Ten, 34. 



Jarnegan, J. P., 122. 
"Jeff. Davis script," 41. 
Johnson, I. H., 95. 
Johnson, Capt. J. H., 13. 
Johnson, L. F., 13. 
Johnson's Island. 

Prison, 39-45. 

Col. Steedman's report on, 129. 
Johnston, Gen. J. B., 75, 93. 
Jones, J. K., 121. 
Judith, patrol boat, 27. 

Kaumater, Thomas, 122. 
Kearney, Lt. J. Watts, 53. 
Kniebe, L., 121. 
Knox, Maj. S. L., 32, 38, 71, 78, 

86-7. 
Knowles, 32, 33. 

Larron, John, 121. 

Letters, difficulty in receiving 

and sending, 46. 
Lewis, Hugh, 128. 
Lloyd, Henry, 120. 
Lochridge, T. H., 120. 
Locke, Capt. L. E., 132, 133. 
Locke, M. B., 21, 33, 49, 59, 64, 

97, 98. 
Lockett, 0. W., 10. 
Lodwick, Joel, 122. 
Louisiana. 

Sentiment of the people toward 
the Confederacy, 70. 
Louisiana rum, 51. 
Lowry, James H., 10. 

McBeth, Capt. J. R., 134-5. 

McCaul, J. M., 121. 

McCown, Gen. J. P., 34, 36, 38, 

124. 
McKibbon, Davis, 121. 
McLean, Dan, 10. 
McLean, Hector, 10. 
McMorries, Prof. E. Y. 

Fortune telling, 118. 

In Milledgeville, 116. 

Member Perote Guards, 9. 

On furlough, 113. 

Personal reminiscences, 95-119. 

Regimental historian, 12. 

Sketch of, 9. 

Trip home, 109. 

Vice-President Reunion Asso- 
ciation, 11. 
Mackall, Gen. W. W., 38. 
Madding, Dr., 32. 
Madison, Wis. 

Confederate dead at, 120-3. 



(187) 



140 



First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 



Prison at, 125. 
Mails, 46. 

Mannigault, Gen., 87. 
Mansell, B. F., 121. 
Marine hospital, 14, 24-28. 
Marquis, G. S., 121. 
Maryland. 

Loyalty of people to the 
South, 88. 
Mathews, W. C, 122, 
Manerief, J. A., 121. 
Meader, Harvey, 121. 
Meadows, Capt. J. D., 13, 33, 45, 

99. 
Meredith, Zeke, 100. 
Meridian campaign, 71. 
Mettier, Charles, 121. 
Meucham, F. L., 122. 
Miles, Thomas B., 10. 
Miles, Col. W. R., 48, 58, 61, 68. 
Milledgeville, Ga., 116. 
Minis, Thomas, 122. 
Mississippi. 

Sentiment towards Confed- 
eracy, 70. 
Mississippi, gunboat, 55. 
Mobile Bay campaign, 72. 
Montgomery Advertiser. 

Sketch first published in, 12. 
Moore, W., 120. 
Morrison, Col., 43. 
Morrison, J. T., 122. 

Nashville, battle of, 87, 91. 
Negro prison guards, 135. 
Nelms, steamer, 27. 
New light house, 14, 20. 
New York Zouaves, 27. 

Officers. 

in prison at Johnson's Island. 
39. 
Old light house, 14, 20. 
Oliver, S. T., 121. 
O'Neal, Capt. 52. 
Organization of regiment, 13. 
Ostine, Thomas, i23. 
Owen, Thomas M. 

Locates flag of Perote Guards, 
23. 

Prefatory note, 5. 

Preparation of history urged, 
9. 

Thanked for aid, 12. 
Owens, Capt. A. H., 13. 

Padgett, Lt. E. J. M., 43, 102, 103 
Patterson, James T., 115. 



Payne, Gen., 38, 41. 
Peacock, Benager, 121. 
Peacock, W. L., 121. 
Pensacola, bay and town, 14-15. 
Pensacola campaign, 1861. 

Bombardment of Fort Pick- 
ens, 28. 

Defenses, 14 . 

Evacuated, 34. 

Incidents, 21-3. 

Sickness at, 24. 
Perote Guards, 9, 20-1, 26, 33, 49, 
52, 78, 94, 95, 113. 

Flag of, 23. 

McMorries in, 9. 

Organization, 13. 

Rolls of, 10. 

Uniforms, 23. 
Pipkons, Wm., 122. 
Polk, Gen., 74, 124. 
Port Hudson campaign, 1862-63. 

Amusements, 52. 

Description of, 48. 

Farragut attacks, 53. 

Federal fleet, 52. 

Fortifications, 49. 

Land attack, 57-61. 

Seige, 64-7. 

Sickness, 67. 

Col. Steedman's report, GO. 

Surrender, 62, 68. 

Tragic incidents, 65. 
Posey, Capt. Ben Lane, 13, 30. 
Prisons and prison life. 

Camp Butler, 39, 40-3. 

Camp Douglas, 39, 125. 

Dead at Madison, Wis., 120-8. 

Disease, 131. 

Escapes, 43. 

Exchanges, 46, 71, 132. 

Food, 43-5, 129-31, 134. 

Johnson's Island, 39, 45, 129. 

Col. Steedman's reminiscen- 
ces, 132. 

Col. Steedman's report, 129. 

Treatment of prisoners, 
42-3, 44-5, 120. 
Pruitt, Capt. W. H., 32, 33. 
Pugh, James L., 15, 16. 
Pulaski, 92. 

Quarles, Gen., 87. 

Ram, the Arkansas, 47, 55. 
Ramsey, Capt. D. W., 33. 
Reardon, N. T., 122. 
Red Eagles, 13, 20, 30, 32. 
Reel Foot Lake, 35. 



(188) 



Index. 



141 



Reeves, John, 77. 
Register, Pierce, 120. 
ueminiscences. 

McMorries, 94. 

Col. Steedman, 132. 
Reorganization of regt., 32-3. 
Reunion of regt., 11. 
Retaliatory measures, 45, 133. 
Revolutionary soldier. 

George Steedman, 18. 
Riley, Robert, 121, 
Ross, J. H., 122. 
Rough and Ready Pioneers, 

10, 13, 20, 33. 
Rucker's battery, 35, 36, 37, 47. 
Rumph, Dr. James D., 26. 
Rumph, Langdon L., 26. 
Russell, W. J., 122. 

Sager, S. J., 121. 
Sanford, John H., 10. 
Santa Rosa Island, 14. 
St. Louis Republican, 42. 
Scott, Gen., 87. 
Scott, D. M., 122. 
Shell fragments, 101. 
Shorter, Capt. H. R., 13. 
Sickness, 24, 40. 
Sissonly, C, 122. 
Slemmer, Lt. A. J., 15, 27. 
Small-pox, 134. 
Smart, N,. 123. 
Smith, Daniel P. 

History of Co. K cited, 10, 50. 
Smith, Edward, 122. 
Smith, J. F., 120. 
Smith, Col. M. J., 68. 
Smith, Wm., 122. 



Prest. Reunion Ass'n., 11. 

Prison life, 39-45. 

Prison reports, 129. 

Reminiscences, 132. 

Sketch, 17-20. 

War service summarized, 
18-19. 
Steedman, Edwin H., 19. 
Si-eedman, George, 18. 
Steedman, ueorge Fox, 19. 
Steedman, John, 18. 
Steedman, James H., 19. 
Steedman, Reuben, 18. 
Steedman, Capt. S. D., 32, 50, 

64, 135. 
Stoner, H. J., 120. 
Stoyner, J. V., 120. 
Strahl, Gen., 87. 
Strickland, J. H., 120. 
Stubbs, Capt. J. T., 33. 
Surgeons of 1st regt., 13, 32. 
Sullens, Capt. Brad, 32, 134. 

Talladega Rifles. 

See Alabama Rifles. 
Tallapoosa Rifles, 10, 13, 33. 
Taylor, Isaac, 122. 
Taylor, Robert, 122. 
Tennessee. 

Southern sympathies, 83, 88, 
Tennessee campaign, 1864. 

Beginning of, 82. 

Columbia evacuated by the 
Federals, 83. 

Franklin, battle of, 84. 

Hardships, 92. 

Losses, 91. 

Nashville, battle of, 87, 91. 



Soldiers' Home at Demopolis, 111. Retreat from Tenn., 92. 



Soles, Newton, 65. 
Southern, sentiment, 15-16. 
Southern, sympathizers, 41, 44 
Spears, A. L., 122. 
Spears, G. W., 121, 
Specie paid regt., 22. 

Spirit of the South in 1861, 15, 16.Transportation, 34, 41, 45 
Steedman, Col. I. G. W., 41, 45, 
50, 64, 97, 124, 135. 

Birth and education, 17. 

Capt. Wilcox True Blues, 13. 

Clayton's estimate of, 20. 



Thom, Capt., 9. 
Thornton, J. M., 11. 
Thuwers, J. H., 122. 
Times, steamer, 27. 
Tiptonville, 35, 38, 41. 
Tobacco, use of in army, 68, 



Ubry, J. B., 121. 
Uniforms, 23, 



Col. of regt., 13, 18, 32, 
Data collected by, 10, 
Endorses history, 12, 
Family, 19. 
Marriage, 19, 45, 
Physician, 19, 
Port Hudson, 59-68. 



Vallandigham, 114, 

Warrenton, Fla., 14. 
Washburn, Gov., 126, 
Washington, D. C. 

Veterans' Association, 123. 
Waterman, Mrs. Alice W., 39, 40. 

Sketch of, 123-128. 
(189) 



]^42 First Alabama Regiment, C. S. A. 

Wheeler, Gen. Joseph, 20. Williams, Capt. Richard, 33, 85, 

Wheeler, S. R., 10, 11. 102. 

White, J. R., 122. Williamson, Lt., 93. 

Whitfield, Capt. Jno. F., 32, 33, 50. Willis, Samuel, 123. 
Wicks, N. .T., 122. Women of the South, 70, 113, 

Wilcox True Blues, 13, 18, 27, 33. 116, 118. 
Wingfield, Col., 61. Wood. Capt. .John H., 33. 

Wilkes, John, 120. Wyandotte, gunboat, 27. 

Williams, Maj. Jere N., 13, 20. Wylie, J. M., 122. 

(190) 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. OWEN, Director 



BULLETIN NO. 3 



CHECK LIST 



Newspaper and Periodical Files 



Department of Archives and History 



OF THE 



STATE OF ALABAMA 



COMPILED BY THE DIRECTOR 



MONTaOMBRT, ALA.: 

THE BROWN PRINTING CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 

1904. 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. OWEN, Director 

BULLETIN NO. 3 



CHECK LIST 



Newspaper and Periodical Files 



Department of Archives and History 



OF THE 



STATE OF ALABAMA 



COMPILED BY THE DIRECTOR 



MONTGOMERY, ALA.: 

THE BROWN PRINTING CO.. PRINTERB AND BINDERS, 

1904. 






JUN 20 (1906 
D.«fO. 



PREFATORY NOTE. 

The extent and variety of its newspaper and periodical collec- 
tions is one of the most striking and satisfactory evidences ot 
the general activity of the Department of Archives and History. 
Their value to students of Southern and Alabama history has 
been demonstrated in many ways, and the files are constantly in 
demand by local students and visitors for consultation, compari- 
son and reference. They are being constantly drawn upon in 
the special work, researches and investigations of the Depart- 
ment. 

In order to make the collection more generally useful, and to 
indicate its strength this check list has been prepared. An ex- 
amination will reveal many interesting items. Particular atten- 
tion is directed to the very full files for the following Alabama 
towns : Birmingham, Brewton, Calera, Carrollton, Eufaula, 
Florence, Gainesville, Greensboro, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Mo- 
bile, Montgomery, Selma, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, and Tuskegee ; 
and also to the lists of Georgia, New York, and South Carolina 
files. The collection contains the following sets of important 
periodicals : The Southern Review, The Southern Quarterly Re- 
viezv, and the Southern Agriculturist, Charleston ; American 
Antiquarian, Chicago; Virginia Magazine of History and Bio- 
graphy, Richmond; American Historical Magazine, Nashville, 
Tenn. ; Educational Review, New York ; Publications of the 
Southern History Association, Washington, D. C. ; Bulletin of 
the New York Public Library ; and the American Historical Re- 
view, New York. 

Through the courtesy of publishers, for which public ac- 
knowledgment is here made, the Department is receiving prac- 
tically all current issues of the Alabama newspaper and periodi- 
cal press. They have accumulated rapidly, and are carefully 
preserved. Except in a few cases, however, these have not as 
yet been bound, and are therefore not listed herein. 

The arrangement is alphabetical, first, by States, and second- 
ly, by towns or places of publication. In the case of the Ala- 
bama files, the name of the county follows the name of the town. 
The arrangement is also chronological under each town as near 

(193) 



4 Department of Archives and History. 

as practicable. No effort has been made to observe biblio- 
graphical niceties, or to give a history of any of the papers rep- 
resented. In a general way the form for such work adopted by 
the Library of Congress in its Check List of Anierican N(rci's- 
papers (1901) has been followed. Elsewhere will be found a 
list of abbreviations. 

Montgomery, September 30, 1904. 



(194) 



CONTENTS. 

Title I 

IVefatory Note 3 

Contents 5 

Abbreviations 6 

Alabama 7 

District of Columbia 35 

Florida 37 

Georgia 37 

Illinois 40 

Indiana 40 

Iowa 41 

Kansas 41 

Kentucky 42 

L-^uisiana 42 

Maryland 43 

Massachusetts 44 

Mississippi 46 

Missouri L 47 

New Hampshire 47 

New York 48 

North Carolina 52 

Ohio 52 

Pennsylvania 53 

South Carolina 5+ 

Tennessee 60 

Texas 63 

V irginia 6 ^ 

West Virginia '-5 

Wisconsin 65 

Foreign 63 

(195) 



ABBREVIATIONS. 



•d daily. 

w weekly. 

s. w semi-weekly. 

t. w tri-weekly. 

m monthly. 

b. m bi-monthly. 

8. m semi-monthly. 



o. s old series. 

n. s new series. 

n. d not dated. 

et seq et sequitur. 

vol volume. 

no number. 

book means a bound volume. 



(196) 



ALABAMA. 



Anniston, Calhoun County. 

The Evening News. d. 
May 4, 23, 1892. 

The Daily Hot Blast, d. 
May 4, June 11, 1892. 

Ashville, St. Clair County. 

Democrat Farmer, w. 
Aug. 31, 1848. 

The Southern Aegis, w. 

Sept. 9, 16, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4, 1897. 

Auburn, Lee County. 

The Auburn Graphic, w. 

Oct. 10, 1891. vol. ii. No. 3. 

The C5ermonizer. m 

July, 1893-Sept. 1902. vol. i. No. 1-vol. viii. No. 9. 1 book 

Orange and Blue. 

Nov. 7, 1894-June 11, 1902. vol. i, No. 1-vol. viii. 

Students' publication, Alabama Polytechnic Institute. 

Birmingham, Jefferson County. 

The Alabama True Issue, v^. 
Oct. 16, 1880. vol. i. No. 18. 

The Sunday Morning Chronicle, w. 
July 8, Aug. 12, 1883. 



(197) 



Department of Archives and History. 

Birmingham Chronicle, d. 

Jan. 1-July 1, 1885. l book. 
July 1-Dec. 31, 1885. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-May 30, 1886. 1 book. 
May 1-Dec. 28, 1886. 1 book. 
Sept. 1-Dec. 30, 1886. 1 book. 

Birmingham Age-Herald, d. 

Nov. 1887-Dec. 1890. 1 book. Sundry numbers. 

Sept.-Dec. 1890. 1 book. Sundry numbers. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1891. 1 book. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1892. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1893. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1894. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1895. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1896. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1897. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1898. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1899. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1900. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1901. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1902. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1903. 3 books. 

Jan. 1-Aug. 31, 1904. 2 books. 

The Daily News. d. 

March 4, 1891-March 14, 1892. 1 book. 
March 14-July 14, 1892. 1 book. 
July 15-Nov. 14, 1892. 1 book. 
Nov. 15, 1892-March 30, 1893. 1 book. 

The Birmingham Ledger, w. 

Aug. 20, 1892-Dec. 23, 1893. 1 book. 

Alabama Presbyterian, m. 

August, 1896. Vol. iv. No. 8. 

Weekly Tribune, w. 

March 11, 1899-June 23, 1900. 1 book. 

(198) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 

The Spectator, m. 

April-September, 1901. Vol. i, Nos. 1-6. 
Oct. 1901-March, 1902. Vol. 11, Nos. 1-6. 
April-August, 1902. Vol. Ill, Nos. 1-5. 
No more issued. 

The Bookworm, m. 

December, 1900-November, 1901. Vol. i, Nos. 1-9. 
December, 1901-1902. Vol. ii, Nos. 1-8. 
No more issued. 

Y. M. C. A. Monthly Magazine, m. 

November, 1886-October, 1887. Vol. 1, Nos. 1-12. 

Educational Exchange, m. 

1890-91. Vol. ill, Nos. 3, 4, 5, 9. 

1892. Vol. vii, Nos. 10-12. 

1893. Vol. viii. 

1894. Vol. ix. 

1895. Vol. X. 

1896. Vol. xi. 

1897. Vol. xii. 

1898. Vol. xiii. 

1899. Vol. xiv, Nos. 1-12. 

1900. Vol. XV. 

1901. Vol. xvi. 

1902. Vol. xvii. 

1903. Vol. xviii. 

Sunday School Herald, m. 

June, 1899-March, 1900. Vol. iv, Nos. 1-9. 
June, 1901. Vol. vi. No. 8. 
April, 1902. Vol. — 
Vol. vi et seq published at Montgomery. 

The Southern Farmer, m. 

1904. Vol. xviii. 

Brewton, Escambia County. 

Escambia Banner, w. 

June 2, 1883-Dec. 31, 1885. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 
Jan. 4, 1886-Nov. 3, 1887. 

On July 1, 1886, became The Breioton Banner. 
(199) 



10 Department of Archives and History. 

Ihe Standard Gauge, w. 

Jan. 21, 1888-June 27, 1889. Vol. i, No. 30 et seq. 1 book. 

July 4, 1889-June 26, 1890. 1 book. 

July 3, 1890-Juue 25, 1891. 1 book. 

July 2, 1891-June 30, 1892. 1 book. 

July 7, 1892-July 6, 1893. 1 book. 

July 13, 1893-June 28, 1894. 1 book. 

July 5, 1894-June 27, 1895. 1 book. 

July 4, 1895- June 25, 1896. 1 book. 

July 2, 1896-June 24, 1897. 1 book. 

July 1, 1897-June 23, 1898. 1 book. 

July 7, 1898-June 29, 1899. 1 book. 

July 6, 1899-June 28, 1900. 1 book. 

July 5, 1900-June 27, 1901. 1 book. 

July 18, 1901-June 26, 1902. 1 book. 

The Brewton Leader, w. 

May 23, 1893-Jan. 23, 1894. Vol. ii, No. 1 et seq. 

The Pine Belt News. w. 

Feb. 27. 1894-Feb. 19, 1895. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 

Feb. 26, 1895-Feb. 18, 1896. 1 book. 

Feb. 25, 1896-Feb. 18, 1897. 1 book. 

Feb. 25, 1897-Feb. 17, 1898. 1 book. 

Feb. 24, 1898-Feb. 16, 1899. 1 book. 

Feb. 23, 1899-Feb. 15, 1900. 1 book. 

Feb. 22, 1900-Feb. 14, 1901. 1 book. 

Feb. 21, 1901-Feb. 13, 1902. 1 book. 

The Laborers' Banner, w. 

March 3, 1900-Feb. 23, 1901. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 
March 2, 1901-March 1. 1902. 
March 15-May 17, 1902. 

Discontinued after last date. 

Cahaba, Dallas County. 

The Dallas Gazette, w. 

Jan. 5-Dec. 26, 1854. 1 book. 

Jan. 12-Dec. 21, 1855. 1 book. 

Jan. 4-Dec. 23, 1856. 1 book. 

Jan. 2-Dec. 22, 1857. 1 book. 

Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1858. 1 book. 

Jan. 7-Dec. 30, 1859. 1 book. 
(200) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 11 

The American Citizen, w. 

Aug. 11, 1855. Vol. i. No. 47. 

Calera, Shelby County. 

The Shelby Sentinel, w. 

Sept. 9, 1875-Sept. 6, 1877. Vol. i, No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 
Sept. IS, 1877-Aug. 21, 1879. 1 book. 
Aug. 28, 1879-June 8, 1882. 1 book. 
Aug. 3, 1893-Dec. 31, 1896. 1 book. 
Jan. 7, 1897-Nov. 2, 1899. 1 book. 

Carrollton, Pickens County. 

The West Alabamian. w. 

Jan. 6, 1869-Dec. 27, 1871. 1 book. 
Jan. 3, 1872-Dec. 29, 1875. 1 book. 
Jan. 5, 1876-Dec. 31, 1879. 1 book. 
Nov. 11, 1885. 

Claiborne, Monroe County. 

Alabama Courier, w. 

March 29, 1822. Vol. iil. No. 33. 

Clayton, Barbour County. 

The Clayton Courier, w. 

July 26, 1879; March 2, 1899; Dec. 1, 1894. 

Collinsville, DeKalb County. 

The Wills' Valley Post. w. 
August 9, 1879. 

Columbiana, Shelby County. 

The Shelby Chronicle, w. 
March 30. 1892. 

Cottondale, Tuscaloosa County. 

Our Country and its Future, w. 

April 8-Nov 24, 1899. Vol. i. Nos. 1-34. 
No more Issued. 

(201) 



12 Department of Archives and History. 

Cullman, Cullman County. 

Alabama Tribune, w. 
Aug. 29, 1889. 

The Alabama Republican, w. 

Jan. 17-May 23, 1901. Vol. i, Nos. 1-19, n. s. 

Dadeville, Tallapoosa County. 

Dadeville Banner, w. 
March 2, 1853. 

Decatur, Morgan County. 

North Alabama Times, w. 

Aug. 6, 1859. Vol. i, No. 51. 

Demopolis, Marengo County. 

The Demopolis Express, w. 

Feb. 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 1895. 

Dothan, Houston County. 

Cackles and Scratches, m. 
June, 1902. Vol. i. No. 1. 

Bast Lake, Jefferson County. 

The Boys' Banner, m. 

May, 1901-March, 1902. Vol. i, Nos. 1-12. 
April, 1902-Dec. 1903. Vol. ii. 
Jan. 1903-Oct. 1903. Vol. iii. 
Nov. 1903-1904. Vol. iv. 

Bdivardsville, Cleburne County. 

Edwardsville Standard, w. 
Oct. 9, 1894. 

The Standard News. w. 
March 17, May 5, 1892. 

(202) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 13 

Eufaula, Barbour County. 

The Eufaula Democrat, w. 

July 8, 1846-June 27, 1848. Vol. ii, No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 

July 4, 1848- June 22, 1850. 1 book. 

July 2, 1850-June 24, 1851. 1 book. 

Spirit of the South, w. 

July 1, 1851-June 22, 1852. 1 book. 
May 8, 1855-July 24, 1860. 
Aug. 27, Sept. 10, 1861. 

The Bluff City Times, w. 

April 15, 1868-April 18, 1872. Vol. 1, No. 1 et seq. 1 
book. 
Name changed to 

Eufaula Weekly Times, w. 

May 2, 1872-April 24, 1873. 1 book. 

Eufaula Weekly News. w. 
March 26, 1874. 

Eufaula Times and News. w. 

Sept. 9, 1880-Dec. 30, 1884. Vol. xxvi, No. 37. 1 book. 

Jan. 6-Dec. 31, 1885. 1 book. 

Jan. 7-Dec. 30, 1S86. 1 book. 

Jan. 6-Dec. 22, 1887. 1 book. 

Jan. 4-Dec. 20, 1888. 1 book. 

Jan. 3, 1889-Dec. 25, 1890. 1 book. 

Jan. 1, 1891-Dec. 29, 1892. 1 book. 

Jan. 5. 1893-Dec. 27, 1894. 1 book. 

Jan. 3-Dec. 26, 1895. 1 book. 

Jan. 2-Dec. 31, 1896. 1 book. 

Jan. 7-Dec. 30, 1897. 1 book. 

Jan. 6-Dec. 29, 1898. 1 book. 

The Eufaula Weekly Bulletin, w. 

March 5, 1881-March 8, 1882. Vol, i, No. 1 et seq. 1 
book. 

The Eufaula Daily Times, d. 

April 27-Oct. 27, 1872. Vol i, No. 16 et seq. 1 book. 
Oct. 29, 1872-April 27, 1873. 1 book. 
(203) 



14 Department of Archives and History. 



The Daily Times, d. 




Nov. 25, 1882-Dec. 30, 


1883. 1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1885. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 29, 1886. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1887. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 25, 1887. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1888. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 30, 1888. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1889. 


1 book. 


Aug. 7-Oct. 31, 1889 


and May 1-31, i890. 


Jan. 1-June 29, 1890. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 31, 1890. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1891. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 31, 1891. 


1 book. 


Jan.l-June 30, 1892. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 31, 1892. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1893. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dcc. 31, 1893. 


1 book. 


Jan. 2-June 29, 1894. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1895. 


1 book. 


July 2-Dec. 31, 1895. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 31, 1896. 


1 book. 


Jan. 1-June 30, 1897. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 31, 1897. 


1 book. 


July 1-Dec. 30, 1898. 


1 book. 



1 book. 



Alabama Poultry and Pet Stock Journal, m. 
Aug. 1899-1900. Vol. 1. 
1900-1904. Vol. 11. 
1904. Vol. ill. 

Butazv, Greene County. 

The Independent Observer, vv. 
May 17, 1861. 

The Alabama Whig. w. 

Jan. 19, 1854. Vol. xiv. No. 48. Whole No. 724. 

The Eutaw Whig and Observer, w. 
July 24. 31, 1879. 

(204) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 15 

The Eutaw Mirror, w. 

May 27, Aug. 5, 19, Sept. 2, 9, 16, 30, Oct. 14, 28, Nov. 4, 
11, 18, 25, Dec. 2, 9, 1884. 

Florence, Lauderdale County. 

Florence Register and Public Advertiser, w. 
Sept. 9, 1826. Vol. ii. No. 23, Whole No. 75. 

Florence Enquirer, w. 

Aug. 22, 1840. Vol. i, No. 24. 

Florence Gazette, w. 

Oct. 1, 1858-Jan. 11, 1860. 1 book. Vol. xxxvi, No. 4. 
Jan. 18, 1860-July 10. 1861. 1 book. 
July 17, 1861-Jan. 31, 1863. 1 book. 

Daily Florence Gazette, d. 

Aug. 5, 1861. Vol. i. No. 1. 

Florence Journal, w. 

March 29, 1871. Vol. v, No. 16. 

Lauderdale Times, w. 

April 11, 1871-Nov. 19, 1872. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 

The Times and Journal, w. 

Nov. 27, 1872-Feb. 19, 1873. Vol. ii, No. 34. 
And became (Feb. 26, 1873) 

Florence Times-Journal, w. 
Feb. 26, 1873-Sept. 9, 1874. 

Florence Republican, w. 

Jan. 20, 1874-Oct. 20, 1874. Vol. i. No. 2 et seq. 

North Alabama Farm and Home, w. 
April 6, 1875. Vol. i. No. 5. 

The Normal Gem. m. 

Jan. l-June 1, 1889. Vol. i, Nos. 1-6. 
December, 1889, Vol. ii, No. 3. 



(205) 



16 Department of Archives and History. 

Forkland, Greene County. 

The Forkland Progress, w. 

May 31, 1890-Aug. 1, 1891. Vol. i, No. 1-Vol. ii, No. 10. 1 
No more issued. 

Port Payne, DeKalb County. 

Fort Payne Journal, w. 
June 25, 1886. 

Gadsden, Etowah County. 

Gadsden Herald, w. 
Jan. 24, 1851. 

Gadsden Times, w. 

Jan. 4, 25, Feb. 8, 22, July 3, 1867. 

The Gadsden News. w. 
Sept. 6, 27, 1883. 

Gainesville, Sumter County. 

The Independent, w. 

Nov. 18, 1854-July 31, 1858. Vol. 1, No. 16-Vol. Iv, No. 52. 

1 book. 
Oct. 2, 1858-Sept. 23, 1865. Vol. v. No. 8-Vol. xii, No. 6. 
1 book. 

Greensboro, Hale County. 

Alabama Sentinel, w. 

April 9-Sept. 24, 1836. Vol. ill, Nos. 22-46. 

Alabama Beacon, w. 

May 13, 1843-Nov. 5, 1889. Vol. iv, No. 1. et seq. 13 books. 
July 26, 1879; April 17, May 1, 8, 15, 22, July 24, Oct. 2, 
1880; March 31, April 14, 1882. Sundry numbers. 

The Southern Watchman, w. 
July 30, 1879. 



(206) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 17 

Greenville, Butler County. 

Southern Messenger, w. 

March 16, 1859-Dec. 19, 1860. Vol. ii, No. 11-Vol. iii 

No. 51. 
Aug. 15, 1860- July 3, 1861. Sundry numbers. 

The South Alabamian. w. 

April 7, 1860-Dec. 22, 1860. Vol. xiii. No. 14 et seq. 

Bound with the first lot of the preceding, 1859-eO, in 
1 book. 

The Greenville Advocate, w. 
April 9, 1884. 

Grove Hill, Clarke County. 

The Macon Banner, w. 

April 18, Aug. 1. Oct. 1, 1846. 
Grove Hill was originally called Macon. 

Southern Recorder, w. 

April 7, July 14, 1847; Feb. 23, April 12, Aug. 18. Nov. 8. 
1848; and Feb. 7, Sept. 19, 1849. 

The Grove Hill Herald, w. 

Aug. 7, Oct. 23, Nov. 13, 1850; Aug. 18, Nov. 3, 1852; and 
Oct. 11, 1854. 

Clarke County Democrat, w. 

Jan. 31, 1856-Feb. 4, 1858. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 

Feb. 11, 1858-March 1, 1860. 1 book. 

May 8, 1860-Sept. 11, 1862. 1 book. 

Jan. 1, 1863-Aug. 31, 1865. 1 book. 

Jan. 4, 1866-Dec. 24, 1868. 1 book. 

Jan. 7, 1869-April 8, 1873. 1 book. 

May 6, 1873-Dec. 28, 1876. 1 book. 

Jan. 4, 1877-Dec. 28, 1881. 1 book. 

Jan. 5, 1882-Dec. 30, 1886. 1 book. 

Jan. 6, 1887-Dec. 25, 1890. 1 book. 

Jan. 1, 1891-Dec. 27, 1894. 1 book. 

Jan. 10, 1895-Dec. 30, 1897. 1 book. 

Established in 1856, as the Democrat, name changed 

to the Journal, Jan. 1, 1863, and on Nov. 22, 1866. 

the old name resumed. 
2 (207) 



18 Department of Archives and History. 

Guntersville , Marshall County. 

The Marshall Eagle, w. 

Jan. 5, 1852; Nov. 4, 11, 1853; June 9, 1854; Jan. 5, March 
2, June 22, 1855. 

The Tennessee Valley, w. 
July 1. Oct. 14, 1856. 

The Marshall County News. w. 
April 23, 1858. 

Hayneville, Lowndes County. 

The Watchman, w . 

Oct. 12, 1855. Vol. V, No. 32. 

The Hayneville Examiner, w. 
Dec. 18, 1879. 

Highland Home, Crenshaw County. 

Two Mites, w. 

May 4, 1900-Jan. 3, 1902. Vol. i, No. 25-Vol ill, No. 4. 
With the issue of Sept. 6, 1901, the name became Apos- 
tles' Teachings. 

Huntsville, Madison County. 

Huntsville Republican, w. 

Aug. 5. 1817. Vol. i, No. 49. 
Name changed to the 

Alabama Republican, w. 

Sept. 15, 1820-Sept. 13, 1822. Vol. v, No. 1-Vol. vii. No. i. 
book. 
Succeeded by the 

Southern Advocate and Huntsville Advertiser, w. 

May 6, 1825-April 27. 1827. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 1 book 
May 11, 1827-April 23, 1830. 1 book. 
April 30, 1830-April 21, 1832. 1 book. 
May 12, 1832-Feb. 4, 1834. 1 book. 
Feb. 18, 1834-Jan. 17, 1837. 1 book. 
April 26, 1844-Aprll 23, 1847. 1 book. 
May 21, 1847-March 26, 1851. 1 book. 
(208) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 19 

Sonthern Advocate and Hunts ville Advertiser, w.— Con. 
April 2, 1851-Dec. 27, 1854. 1 book. 
Jan. 3, 1855-Aug. 6, 1857. 1 book. 
Aug. 13, 1857-June 26, 1861. 1 book. 
Feb. 28, March 28, April 4, July 25, 1839; June 4. 1840; 

Oct. 4, 1844; June 17, 1848; July 9, 1851; and Aug. 

29, 1860. 

The Democrat, w. 

Aug. 8, 1840; Oct. 2, 1841; Feb. 5, 1842; June 12, Oct. 30. 

1844; and Dec. 12, 1850. 
March 24, 1880-Dec. 17, 1884. Broken file. 
Nov. 8, 1867. 

Weekly Independent, w. 
Jan. 11. 1868. 

Alabama Teachers' Journal, m. 

Sept. 1885-March, 1886. Vol. i, Nos, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 
Feb., April, May, 1886. Vol. ii, Nos. 8, 10, 11. 
March and June, 1888. Vol. iii, Nos. 6 and 9. 
Vol. iii published in Montgomery. 

The Tribune. (Monument Edition.) 
Nov. 29, 1900, 

Jacksonville, Calhoun County. 

Jacksonville Republican, w. 

Jan. 28, 1837-Dec. 27, 1838. 1 book. 

May 22, 1840-Dec. 16, 1851. 1 book. 

March 9, 1852-Dec. 17, 1857. 1 book. 

Jan. 14, 1858-Dec. 21, 1867. 1 book. 

Jan. 4, 1868-Dec. 27, 1873. 1 book. 

Jan. 3, 1874-Dec. 23, 1878. 1 book. 

Jan. 4, 1879-Dec. 29, 1883. 1 book. 

Jan. 5, 1884-Sept. 15, 1888. 1 book. 

Jan. 5, 1889-Dec. 30, 1893. 1 book. 

July 1, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, 1840; Sept. 1, Oct. 27, Dec. 
1, 8, 1841; June 15, July 13, Sept. 28, 1842; Nov. 1, 
1843; Feb. 21, Sept. 11, 1844; June 20, 1848; Jan. 27. 
Feb. 17, July 20, 1852. Sundry numbers. 
(209) 



20 Department of Archives and History. 

Sunny South, w. 

May 27, Sept. 16, 1851; May 4, Aug. 31, Nov. 16, 1852; 
June 21, Dec. 20, 1853; March 14. 1854; and June 28, 
1856. 

The People's Journal, w. 
Jan. 12, 1899. 

Lafayette, Chambers County. 

The East Alabamian. w. 

Oct. 21, 1842; July 8, 29, Aug. 11, 19, Sept. 9, 23, Nov. 4, 
Dec. 2, 16, 1843. 

Linden, Marengo County. 

The Linden Jeffersonian. w. 

July 4, 1860. Vol. viii, No. 33. 

The Marengo Recorder, w. 

Sept. 5, 1866. Vol. i, No. 50. 

Livingston, Sumter County. 

Sumter County Whig. w. 

April 22, 1851-April 19, 1854. Vol. xi. No. 1. whole No. 

521-Vol. xiii, No. 52. 1 book. 
April 20, 1852-April 19, 1854. 1 book. 
April 26, 1854-April 16, 1856. 1 book. 
Ceased publication with the issue of April 16, 1856. Vol. 
XV, No. 52, and succeeded by the Weekly Messenger. 

Marion, Perry County. 

The Marion Herald, w. 
Jan. 16, 1845. 

Alabama Baptist Advocate, w. 

Feb. 23, 1849-July 24, 1850. Old series. Vol. vii. No. 1, 
new series Vol. i. No. 1. 

With the issue of July 31, 1850. became the South 
Western Baptist, and Dec. 8, 1852, began publication at 
Montgomery, where it continued until Jan. 1, 1854. 
See Tuskegee. 

(210) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 21 

The Marion Commonwealth, w. 
Dec. 10, 1858; July 32, 1866. 

The Baptist Correspondent, w. 
Dec. 5, 1860. Vol. i, No. 48. 

Judson Echoes, m. 

Feb. 1, 1887. Vol. vi, No. 3. 

Moulton, Lawrence County. 

The Christian Herald, w. 

July 28, 1865-Dec. 7, 1866. Vol. i, No. 2-Vol. ii, No. 22. 1 
book. 

The Moulton Advertiser, w. 

March 17, 1880-Dec. 27, 1883. Broken files. 

Mobile, Mobile County. 

Mobile Commercial Register, w. 

Oct. 9, 1830-May 30, 1831. 1 book. 
June 6, 1831-May 26, 1832. 1 book. 
June 2, 1832-May 31, 1833. 1 book. 
Dec. 21, 1833-Dec. 31, 1834. 1 book. 
Jan. 3, 1835-Dec. 30, 1835. 1 book. 
Jan. 6, 1836-Dec. 31, 1836. 1 book. 
Jan. 4, 1837-Dec. 30, 1837. 1 book. 

Commercial Reporter and Shipping List, of the Mobile 
Morning Chronicle. 

Dec. 13, 1837. Vol. ii. No. 5. 

The Herald and Tribune, d. 

May 1, 1845-Oct. 31, 1845. Vol. ii. No. 52-Vol. iv No. *> 

(sic). No. 216. 1 book. 
May 1, 1845-Oct. 31, 1846. Vol. v, Nos. 53-249. 1 book. 
Dec. 1, 1847-May 31, 1848. Vol. vi. No. 1829-Vol. vii. No. 

1979. 1 book. 
Nov. 1, 1849-April 30, 1850. Vol. viii, No. 2315-Vol. ix, No. 

2466. 1 book. 
Oct. 5, 1850-March 30, 1851. Vol. x. No. 2610-No. 3056. 1 

book. 

(211) 



S2 Department of Archives and History. 

Mobile Daily Advertiser, d. 
Dec. 11, 1847. 

Mobile Register and Journal, d. 
Jan. 1-Oct. 31, 1849. 1 book. 

Mobile Advertiser, s-w, 
Dec. 15, 1851. 

Mobile Weekly Advertiser, w. 

July 31, 1852. Vol. i. No. 31. 

The Mobile Weekly Register and Advertiser, w. 
Feb. 10, 1862. 

Mobile Advertiser and Register, w. 

Jan. 6, 11, Feb. 15, March 4, Oct. 22, 1863. 

Advertiser and Register, d. 

Jan. 1-June 30, 1863. 1 book. 
July 16-Dec. 30, 1865. 1 book. 

Weekly Advertiser, w. 

Sept. 2, 1865-Dec. 29, 1866. 1 book. 

Mobile Daily Advertiser and Register, d. 
Jan. 1, 1867-Dec. 31, 1867. 2 books. 

Mobile Daily Tribune, d. 
Sept. 29. 1862. 

Mobile Daily Tribune, d. 

Feb. 6, 1875. Vol. 1, No. 90. 

Mobile Evening News. d. 

April 10, 1862, July 18, 1863. 

The Army Argus and Crisis, w. 
July 9, 1864. 

The Mobile Daily Tribune, d. 

Oct. 21, 1874-June 30, 1875. Vol. i, Nos. 1-213. 1 book. 
July 1, 1875-Dec. 31, 1875. Vol. i, No. 214-Vol. ii. No. 59. 

1 book. 
Jan. 1, 1876-June 30, 1876. Vol. ii, Nos. 60-219. 1 book. 
July 1, 1876-Dec. 31, 1876. Vol. il, No. 220-Vol. iii. No. 59. 
1 book. 

(212) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 23 

The Daily Register, d. 

July 23, 1879; March 28, 1884. 

Jan. 1, 1889-Dec. 31, 1900. 23 books. 

The Daily News. d. 

July 1, 1893-June 30, 1900. 14 books. 

The Daily Register, d. 

Dec. 7, 1889. (Contains full account of death of Jefferson 
Davis.) 

The Catholic Truth, w. 

Sept. 8, 1900-March 16, 1901. Vol. i, Nos. 18-37. 

Chat. w. 

Jan. 19, 1901-March 5, 1904. Vols. i-iv. 

Jewish Chronicle. 

See Montgomery. 

Monroeville, Monroe County. 

Southern Champion, w. 

April 6, 1860-April 26, 1861. 1 book. 

Montgomery, Montgomery County. 

Alabama Journal, w. 

Nov. 22, 1837. Vol. xii. No. 25. 

The American Cotton Planter, m. 
1853. Vol. i, Nos. 1-12. 
1855-1861. Sundry numbers. 

Advertiser and State Gazette, t. w. 
June 20, 1850. 

Advertiser and Gazette, w. 
July 9, 1851. 

Montgomery Advertiser and State Gazette, w. 
May 31, 1854-April 9, 1856. 1 book. 
Sept. 14, 1859. 

(213) 



^ Department of Archives and History. 

Montgomery Daily Advertiser, d. 

April 15, 17, 20, May 10, 1862; March 6-29, 1866; May 31, 

1871. 
Nov. 25, Dec. 25, 1874; Dec. 9, 1876; Aug. 1, 1879; May 29 

1885; April 29, May 5-15, 1886; May 20-June 22, 1887. 

Sundry numbers. 
April 25-Dec. 31, 1873. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-June 30, 1874. 1 book. 
July 1-Nov. 13, 1874. 1 book. 
Jan. 3-June 30, 1877. 1 book. 
July 1-Dec. 30, 1877. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-June 30, 1878. 1 book. 
July 2-Dec. 31, 1878. 1 book, 
Jan. 1-June 29, 1879. 1 book. 
July 1-Dec. 31, 1879. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-June 29, 1880. 1 book. 
July 1-Dec. 31, 1880. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-July 20 ,1881. 1 book. 
July 1-Dec. 30, 1882. 1 book. 
Jan. 3-June 30, 1883. 1 book. 
July 1-Dec. 30, 1883. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-June 29, 1884. 1 book. 
July 1-Dec. 31, 1884. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-May 30, 1885. 1 book. 
Nov. 1885-June, 1886. 1 book. 
July-Dec, 1886. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1891. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1892. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1893. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1894. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1895. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1896. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1897. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1898. 3 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1899. 4 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1900. 4 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1901. 4 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1902. 4 books. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1903. 4 books. 
Jan. 1-June 30, 1904. 2 books. 
(214) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 25 

The Montgomery Weekly Advertiser, w. 
Feb. 18, 1863. 

Jan. 6-Dec. 29, 1875. 1 book. 
April 7, 1875-July 12, 1876. 1 book. 
Jan. 6-June 2, 1885. 1 book. 

Montgomery Daily Post. d. 

April 4, 1860-Oct. 4, 1861. Vol. i, No. 2 et seq. 1 book. 

Weekly Montgomery Confederation, w. 

June 8, 1860-Jan. 11, 1861. Vol. iii, Nos. 21-52. Sundry 
numbers. 

Montgomery Daily Mail. d. 

Feb. 12, June 24, and July 23, 1861; Sept. 6, Oct. 2, 1864. 

Montgomery Weekly Mail. w. 

Aug. 1, 1862-April 22, 1863. Vol. ix, Nos. 1-52. 1 book. 
March 21, 1867-April 29, 1868. 1 book. 
May 6, 1868-Nov. 10, 1869. 1 book. 
Nov. 24, 1869-Nov. 16, 1870. 1 book. 

Daily State Sentinel, d. 

Nov. 5, 8, 23, 29, Dec. 5, 1867. 

Daily Picayune, d. 

Oct. 5, Nov. 19, Nov. 20, 1868. Vol. i, Nos. 99, 137 and 138 

Alabama State Journal, w. (Republican.) 

Jan. 9, 1869-Feb. 24, 1871. Vol. i, No 1 et seq. 1 book. 
Jan. 13, 1871-Dec. 27, 1872. 1 book. 

Alabama State Journal, d. (Republican.) 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1871. 1 book. 
Jan. 3-Dec. 31, 1872. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-June 29, 1873. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-June 30, 1874. 1 book. 
July 1-Nov. 14, 1874. 1 book. 

State Fair Bulletin. 

Nov. 19, 1872. Vol. ii, No. 8. 

(215) 



26 Department of Archives and History. 

The Southern Plantation, w. 

Jan. 14-Oct. 28, 1875. Vol. i, Nos. 11-52, pp. 1-744. 1 bool: 
Nov. 2, 1876-April 26, 1877. Vol. iii, Nos. 1-25. 

Southern Law Journal and Reporter, m. 

Dec, 1879-Nov.. 1881. Vol. i. No. 1-Vol. ii, No. 12. 2 vols. 

Alabama Baptist, w. 

Jan. 6, 1881-Dec. 27, 1883. 1 book. 

Jan. 3, 1884-Dec. 23, 1886. 1 book. 

Jan. 6, 1887-Dec. 19, 1889. 1 book. 

Jan. 2, 1890-Dec. 24, 1891. 1 book. 

Jan. 7, 1892-Dec. 21, 1893. 1 book. 

Jan. 4, 1894-Dec. 19, 1895. 1 book. 

Jan. 2, 1896-April 6, 1899. 1 book. 

The Daily Dispatch, d. 
April 29, 1886. 

The Alliance Herald, w. 

July 16, Nov. 19, 1891; May 4, July 7, 1893; April 26, May 
3, 10, 17, 1894. 

Woman's Work. m. 

Dec. 1898-Aug., 1899. Vol. i. 
Sept., 1899-June, 1900. Vol. ii. 

The University School Boy. m, 

Aug. 16, 1899-April 25, 1903. Vols, i-iii. 

The Church Record, m. 

1899-1904. Vols, viii-xiii. 
Prior to 1902 published in Tuscaloosa. 

The Jewish Chronicle, w. 

Nov. 3, 1899-1904. 4 vols. 

Until Oct. 25, 1901, published in Mobile. 

The Josephite. m. 

June, 1901-1904. Vols, iii-v. Sundry numbers. 

In His Steps, w. 

1900-1902. Sundry numbers. 

(216) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 27 

The Alabama Knight, m. 

Oct., 1897-July, 1900. Vols, i-iii. 

The Alabama Odd Fellow, m. 

June, 1898-June, 1902. Vols. i-v. 

South Western Baptist. 

See Marion; see also Tuskegee. 

Alabama Teachers' Journal, 
See Huntsville. 

Sunday School Herald. 
See Birmingham. 

Southern Agriculturist. 
See Nashville, Tenn. 

Prattville, Autauga County, 

Southern Statesman, w. 
Dec. 20, 1854. 

The Autauga Citizen, w. 
July 2, 1874. 

The Southern Signal, w. 
Aug. 12, 1881. 

Roanoke, Randolph County. 

The Randolph County News. w. 
July 24, 1879. 

Scottsboro, Jackson County. 



Jackson County Herald, w. 
Oct. 22, 1868. 

The Scottsboro Citizen, w. 
July 25, 1879. 



Selma, Dallas County. 



Tri-Weekly Reporter, t. w. 
Aug. 13, 1856. 

(217) 



28 Department of Archives and History. 

Selma Morning Reporter, d. 
June 1, Aug. 12, 1860. 
April 4, 1861-Dec. 30, 1862. 1 book. 
Jan. 1, 1863-Dec. 8, 1864. 1 book. 

Daily State Journal, d. 

Feb. 16, 23, March 20, 1862. 

Selma Morning Dispatch, d. 

Aug. 23, Nov. 6, 12, 18, Dec. 21, 1863. 
July 27, 1864. 

Selma Evening Dispatch, d. 
Jan. 13, 1864. Vol. i. No. 2. 

The Sunday Mississippian. w. 

Jan. 24, Oct. 30, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11, 1864. 

The Daily Mississippian. d. 
July 7, Nov. 1, 1864. 

The Morning Times, d. 

Dec. 2, 1865-July 3, 1866. Vol. i, Nos. 131-297. 1 book. 
Feb. 10-July 3, 1866. Vol. i, Nos. 178-297. 1 book. 
Sept. 6, 1868-March 4, 1869. 1 book. 

The Selma Weekly Messenger, w. 

Nov. 10, 1866-Nov. 23, 1867. Vol. i, Nos. 1-49. 1 book. 

The Selma Daily Messenger, d. 

Feb. 21, 1866-Jan. 23, 1867. Vol. i. No. 243 et seq. 1 book. 

Nov. 1, 1866-June 5, 1867. Vol. ii, Nos. 132-311. 1 book. 

June 6, 1867-Jan. 29, 1868. Vol. iii, Nos. 2-205. 1 book. 

The Selma Times and Messenger, d. 

Jan. 30-May 9, 1868. Vol. iii, Nos. 206-291. 1 book. 
May 10-Sept. 5, 1868. Vol. iii, No. 292-Vol. iv. No. 78. 1 
book. 

The Selma Times and Messenger, w. 
April 4, 1868. 

(218) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 29 

The Southern Argus, w. 

June 16, 1869-Dec. 29, 1871. Vol. i, No. 1-Vol. iii, No. 52. 

1 book. 
Jan. 5-Dec. 27, 1872. 1 book. 
Jan. 3-Dec. 26, 1873. 1 book. 
Jan. 2-Dec. 25, 1874. 1 book. 
Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1875. 1 book. 
Jan. 7-Dec. 29, 1876. 1 book. 
Jan. 5-Dec. 28, 1877. 1 book. 
Jan. 4-Dec. 27, 1878. 1 book. 
Jan. 3-Dec. 26, 1879. 1 book. 

State Index, w. 

Nov. 22, Dec. 9, 1880; Jan. 1, Sept. 24, Oct. 8. 22, 29, Dec. 
3, 10, 1881; Jan. 21, March 4, April 1, May 20, 27, Nov. 
17, 24, Dec. 8, 1882; Jan. 12, 1883. 

The Morning Times, d. 
April 2, 1882. 

Progressive Democrat, w. 
Feb. 3, 10, 16, 1883. 

Six Mile, Bibb County. 

The Bibb Blade, w. 

June 3, 1880, Sept. 17, 1884. 

Suggsville, Clarke County. 

The Clarke County Post. w. 

May 9, 1836-Aug. 18, 1837. Vol. i, Nos. 3-42. 1 book. 

Talladega, Talladega County. 

The Patriot, w. 

May 6, July 1, Sept. 23, 1840. 

Dec. 1, 8, 1841. Vol. iii, Nos. 13 and 14. 

Southern Register, w. 

Aug. 11, 25, Sept. 1, 8, 1838. Vol. iv. No. 2 et seq. 

(219) 



30 Department of Archives and History. 

Alabama Reporter, w. 

Nov. 7, 1844; Aug. 12, 1847; July 20, 1848; July 20, 1852; 
March 26, 1857. 

Democratic Watchtower. w. 

April 3, July 29, 1840; May 12, 1841; Aug. 16, 1843; July 

12, 1848; Oct. 2, 1850; May 12, 1852; April 29, 1857. 

Sundry numbers. 
Jan. 5-Nov. 15, 1848. 
Jan. 30, 1861-Jan. 25, 1865. 
April 19, 1871-Nov. 27, 1872. 

Our Church Home. m. 

Nov. 1898-Aug. 1904. Vol. iii. No. 5-Vol. ix. No. 8. 

Troy, Pike County. 

Independent American, w. 

Aug. 8, 1855. Vol. i. No. 8. 

The Southern Advertiser, w. 
March 25, 1863. 

The Daily Messenger, d. 
1892-1896. 2 vols. 

Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County. 

Alabama State Intelligencer, w. 

April 10, 1829-June 4, 1830. Vol. i. No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 

State Rights Expositor and Spirit of the Press, w. 
Dec. 22, 1832. 

Flag of the Union, w. 

Dec. 18, 1833, Feb. 12, 19, 1834. 
July 11, 1835-July 23, 1836. 1 book. 

Independent Monitor, w. 

Aug. 11, Dec. 15, 29, 1841; April 27, 1842: Feb. 1, June 21, 
1843; Feb. 14, 1844; Dec. 24, 1845; April 8. 1846: 
April 20, 1847; July 7, 20, 1848; Feb. 22, 1849; Sept. 
2, 1852; July 15, 1853; Dec. 14, 1854; Nov. 22, 1855; 
May 15, 1867. Sundry numbers. 
(220) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 31 

Independent Monitor, w. 

May 29, 1841-Jan. 18, 1.843. Vol. v. No. 1-Vol. vi, No. 39. 

1 book. 
April 13, 1847-April 6, 1848. Vol. xi, Nos. 1-52. 1 book. 
April 13, 1848-March 22, 1849. 1 book. 
April 9, 1857-April 1, 1858. Vol. xxi, Nos. 1-52. 1 book. 
April 8, 1858-April 9, 1859. 1 book. 
April 16, 1859-April 14, 1860. 1 book. 
Oct. 9, 1867-Nov. 3, 1868. Vol. xxviii, Nos. 1-52. 1 book. 
Nov. 10, 1868-Nov. 2, 1869. 1 book. 
Nov. 9, 1869-Nov. 1, 1870. 1 book. 
Nov. 8, 1870-Dec. 20, 1871. 1 book. 
Succeeded by the 

Tuscaloosa Blade, w. 

Sept. 5, 1872-Aug. 28, 1873. Vol. i, Nos. 1-52. ' 1 book. 
Sept. 4, 1873-Oct. 28, 1875. Vol. ii, No. 1-Vol. iv. No. 8. 
1 book. 

The Old Zach. 

March 13, 1848. No. 1. 

Campaign weekly; published in support of Gen. Taylor 
for the presidency. 

The Crystal Fount. 

June 6, 1851-May 28, 1852. Vol. iii. No. 3-Vol. iv, No. 2. 
1 book. 

Young America. 

Jan. 1, 1855. Vol. i. No. 1. 

The Tuscaloosa Times, w. 

Nov. 5, 1873-Sept. 14, 1887. Broken file. 1 book. 

The Southern Law Journal, m. 

Jan., 1878-Nov., 1879. Vol. i, No. 1-Vol. ii, No. 11. 2 vols. 

The Old Church Path. m. 

Dec, 1878-Nov., 1879. Vol. i, Nos. 1-12. 
Dec, 1879-Nov. 1880. Vol. ii, Nos. 1-12. 



(221) 



32 Department of Archives and History. 

Alabama Historical Reporter, m. 

Oct., 1879-July, 1880. Vol. i, Nos. 1-10. 
Dec, 1883-Nov., 1884. Vol. ii, Nos. 1-12. 
Jan.- July, 1885. Vol. iii, Nos. 1-7. 
No more issued. 

The Clarion, w. 

March 2, 1880-Dec. 5, 1882. Vol. i, No. 21-Vol. iv, No. / 
Broken file. 1 book. 

The Tuscaloosa Gazette, w. 

July 4, 1878-Nov. 24, 1887. Broken file. 1 book. 

The Daily Gazette, d. 

April 15, 1887-Oct. 25, 1891. Broken file. 

The University Daily, d. 
June 20. 1887. 

The Citizen Soldier, m. 

Sept. 1893-March, 1894. Vol. i. 
No more issued. 

The Tuscaloosa Journal, w. 

Oct. 10, 24, 1894, July 24, 1895, July 29, 1896. 

Good News. m. 

Feb. 15, 1902-July, 1903. Vols. i-ii. Sundry numbers. 

The Crimson-White. University, Ala. 

Oct. 5, 1900-May 18, 1901. Vol. viii, Nos. 1-20. 
1901-1902. Vol. ix. 
1902-1903. Vol. X. 
1903-1904. Vol. xi. 

Cap and Gown. m. 

1900-1903. Vols. ii-v. Sundry numbers. 

The Church Record. 
See Montgomery. 

Tuscumhia, Franklin County. 

Franklin Enquirer, w. 

March 13-June 9, 1824. Vol. i, Nos. 1-13. 
(222) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 38 

The Tuscumbian. w. 

Sept. 1, 1824-Jaii. 17, 1827. Vol. i, No. 2-Vol. iii, No. 13. 
Bound with the preceding as one book. 

North Alabamian. w. 

Aug. 30, 1834; Sept. 4, 1873. 

Tuscumbia Enquirer, w. 

May 17, 1854. Vol. xiv, No. 20. 

The Valley Farmer, m. 

October, 1873. Vol. i. No. 1. 

Tuskegee, Macon County. 

Macon Republican, w. 

Nov. 8, 1849-Dec. 9, 1852. 1 book. 
Dee. 30, 1852-Oct. 9, 1856. 1 book. 
Dec. 4, 1856-Dec. 8, 1859. 1 book. 
Nov. 16, 1854. 

South Western Baptist, w. 
July 31, 1850-Feb. 26, 1851. 
March 5, 1851-Nov. 10, 1852. 1 book. 
Dec. 8, 1852-May 1, 1856. 1 book. 
May 8, 1856-April 28, 1859. 1 book. 
May 5, 1859-May 15, 1862. 1 book. 
May 22, 1862-April 13, 1865. 1 book. 
See Marion, and also Montgomery. 

Tuskegee News. w. 

March 27, 1873- June 24, 1875. 1 book. 
July 1, 1875-April 24, 1879. 1 book. 
May 1, 1879-April 13, 1882. 1 book. 

Union Springs, Bullock County. 

Union Springs Herald, w. 

Feb. 27, March 26, May 14. 1884. 



(223) 



34 Department of Archives and History. 

Wedowee, Randolph County. 

American Eagle, w. 

Nov. 2, 8, 22, 29, Dec. 6, 13, 1855. 
Jan. 10-July 10, 1856. 

The Randolph County Democrat, w. 
Nov. 14, 1860. 

Wetumpka, Elmore County. 

Wetumpka Argus and Comrnercial Advertiser, w. 
May 15, 1839-March 18, 1840. Vol. iv, Nos. 8-52. 
March 25, 1840-March 24, 1841. 
March 31, 1841-March 23, 1842. 
March 30, 1842-March 22 1843. 

March 29, 1843-March 20, 1844. Vol. viii, Nos. 1-52. 
Nov. 20, 1839-May 26, 1841; June 10, 1845. 

Name changed to The Wetumpka Argus, Feb. 12, 1840. 

Wetumpka Courier, w. 
Feb. 28, 1840. 

The Alabama Times, w. 

Aug. 14, 1840- Jan. 1, 1841. Vol. i. No. 11 et seq. 
Feb. 19-July 30, 1841. 

The Southern Crisis, vv. 

May 16-Nov. 7, 1840. Vol. 1, Nos. 1-26. pp. 208. 

The Wetumpka Whig. w. 

Nov. 13, 1846, Jan. 15, 1847. Vol. iii, Nos. 20 and 29. 

Daily State Guard, d. 

Jan. 2-Dec. 31, 1849. 1 book. 

Semi- Weekly State Guard, s. w. 

Feb. 3, Feb. 6, April 24, 1851. Vol. ii, Nos. 10, 11, and 33. 

State Guard, w. 

Sept. 10, 1852. Vol. vi. No. 37. 

Dorsey's Dispatch, w. 

Sept. 22, Oct. 13, 1854. Vol. 1, Nos. 38 and 41. 
Sept. 5, 1856-July 10, 1857. 
(224) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 35 

Wetumpka Dispatch, w. 

July 17-Nov. 13, 1857. 1 book. 
Bound with the preceding. 

Wetumpka Spectator, w. 

Nov. 14, 1856-Oct. 6 1857. 1 book. 

Feb. 12, July 2, 1857; June 2, 1861. Vol. ii. No. 32, vol. iii, 
No. 1, Vol. vi. No. 30. 

The Central Alabamian. w. 
Jan. 6-Sept. 7, 1880. 

The Wetumpka Times, w. 
Jan. 5-Dec. 21, 1881. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



Washington. 

National Journal. 

Nov. 10, 1829-Nov. 18 1831. Sundry numbers. 

National Intelligencer. 

Jan. 12 1830-Dec. 15, 1846. Sundry numbers. 
June 3, 1851-Sept. 15, 1853. 

Banner of the Constitution. 

April 10, 1830. Vol. i. No. 33. 

The Globe. 

Jan. 23, 1832-Feb. 11, 1833. 

May 4, 1840-Sept. 26, 1840. 

Dec. 10, 1835-Nov. 30, 1836. 1 book. 

Dec. 1, 1836-Nov. 30, 1837. 1 book. 

Feb. 4, 1852. 

The Dollar Globe. 
Oct. 16, 1844. 

United States Telegraph. 
Feb. 9, 1836. 

(225) 



3,6 Department of Archives and History. 

The Union, s. w. t. w. 

Jan. 14, 1846-Dec. 29, 1848. 1 vol. 
1851-1853. Sundry numbers. 
April 24, 1856. 

The Campaign, w. 

May 31-Nov. 1, 1848. Vol. i, Nos. 1-25. pp. 400. 

The Daily Republic, d. 
Aug. 3, 1853. 

The Republic, t. w. 

Jan. 1851-Aug. 1852. Sundry numbers. 

The Republic, w. 
Sept. 30, 1852. 

The Southern Press, s. w. t. w. 

Aug. 9, 1851-July 24, 1852. Sundry numbers. 

National Watchman, w. 

Sept. 29, 1893; April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, 18, 1894. 

The National Geographic Magazine, m. 
1896-1904. Vols, vii-xv. 

The Forester, m. 

1898-1903. Vols, iv-ix. 

Catalogue of United States Public Documents, m, 
Jan. 1895-May, 1904. Nos. 1-113. 

The Conservative Review, qr. 

March, 1899-Sept., 1901. Vols. i-v. 



(226) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 37 

FLORIDA. 



Jacksonville. 

Florida Magazine, m. 

Jan. 1901-Sept. 1903. Vols, ii-vii. 
Discontinued after Sept., 1903. 

Tallahassee. 

The Southern School and Home. m. 
April, 1902-May, 1903. Vol. i. 
April and May, 1903. Vol. ii, Nos. 1 and 2. 



GEORGIA. 



Atlanta. 



Masonic Signet and Journal, m. 

Feb., April and May, 1860. Vol. v, No. 5, and vol. vi, Nos. 
1 and 2. 

The Weekly Atlanta Intelligencer, w. 
Dec. 3, 1862. 

The Atlanta Journal, d. 

Sept. 13-Dec. 19, 1895. 1 book. 

The Atlanta Constitution, d. 

Sept. 13-Dec. 19, 1895. 1 vol. 

The Alkahest, m. 
1899-1902. 

Carnegie Library Bulletin, m. 

August, 1902-July, 1903. Vol. i. 

(227) 



38 Department of Archives and History. 

Athens. 



Southern Banner, w. 
Aug. 14, 1851. 



Augusta. 



Georgia Courier, w. 

April 21, 1831. Vol. v. No. 100. 

Augusta Chronicle and Georgia Advertiser, w. 
Sept. 3, 1831. 

The Georgia Constitutionalist, w. 
Feb. 5, 1833. Vol. x, No. 67. 

The Southern Cultivator, m. 
Jan.-Dec, 1849. Vol. vii. 
Jan.-Dec, 1850. Vol. viii. 

Constitutionalist and Republic, w. 
Sept. 28, Nov. 5, 1851. 

Daily Chronicle and Sentinel, d. 
Dec. 25, 1851. 
July 8, Sept. 15, 1864. 

Tri-Weekly Chronicle and Sentinel, t. w. 
Aug. 31, 1851. 

The Southern Eclectic, m. 

February, 1854. Vol. il, No. 12. 

Southern Field and Fireside, w. 

May 28, 1859-May 19, 1860. Vol. i, Nos. 1-52. 
Aug. 1, 8, 1863. 

Daily Constitutionalist, d. 
July 11, Sept. 17, 1864. 

Columbus. 

The Whig Rifle, w. 
August, 1844. 

(228) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 39 

The Columbus Enquirer, w. 
Aug. 3, 1852. 

Columbus Daily Times, d. 
Jan. 19 and June 23, 1863. 

The Daily Sun. d. 

Feb. 23, and Nov. 1, 1864. 

Macon. 

Georgia Journal and Messenger, w. 
Oct. 15, 1851, June 9, 1852. 

The Macon Daily Confederate, d. 
Sept. 14, 1864. 

Southern Confederacy. 
Sept. 20, 1864. 



Marietta. 



The Helicon, w. 
March 6, 1844. 



Milled geville. 

The Standard of Union, w. 
June 16, 1840. 

Federal Union, w. 
Aug. 4, 1840. 

Rome. 

The Rome Courier, w. 

Aug. 28, Oct. 9, Dec. 25, 1855. 

Rome Tri-Weekly Courier, t. w. 
Sept. 29, 1860. 

Commercial Advertiser. 
Feb. 15, May 1, 1856. 

(229) 



40 Department of Archives and History. 

The Georgian and New Era. 
March 3, 1901. 

Savannah. 

The Daily Georgian. 

May 25-Nov. 25, 1820. 1 book. 
May 26-Nov. 24, 1821. 1 book. 

The Georgian. 

March 19, 20, 1832, Aug. 20, 1840. 

The Savannah Daily Georgian, d. 
July 1-Dec. 31, 1854. 1 book. 

The Magnolia. 

See Charleston, S. C. 



ILLINOIS. 



Chicago. 

The Chicago Times. 

July 21, 1862, April 1, 1863, April 6, 1865. 

Young Folk's Rural, m. 
Sept., 1872. 

Our Fireside Friend, s. m. 
March 30, 1872-Oct. 19, 1872. 

The American Antiquarian, b. m. 
1878-1904. Vols, i-xxvi. 
First published at Cleveland, O. 



INDIANA. 



Waterloo. 

The Archaeologist. 
£f00 Columbus. 0. 

(230) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 41 

IOWA. 



Iowa City. 

Iowa Historical Record, qr. 
1885-1902. Vols, i-xviii. 

Annals of Iowa. New series, qr. 

1882-1884. Vols. Mil. 
The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, qr. 

1903-1904. Vols. i-ii. 

Des Moines. 

Annals of Iowa. 3d Series, qr. 
1893-1904. Vols. i-vi. 

Bulletin of the Iowa Library Commission, qr. 
1902-1904. Vols, ii-iv. 



KAINSAS. 



Atchison, Kansas. 

Atchison Daily Champion, d. 
Jan. 1, 1874. 

Doniphan, Kansas. 

Kansas Constitutionalist, w. 

May 14, 1856-Oct. 21, 1857. Vol. i. No. 1-Vol. ii. No. 19. 

Topeka. 

The Daily Commonwealth, d. 
Jan. 16, 1884. 

Wyandott City. 

The Western Argus, w. 
June 17, 1858. 

(231) 



42 Department of Archives and History. 

KENTUCKY. 



Frankfort. 

Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, qr. 
May, 1903-May, 1904. 5 Nos. 

Lexington. 

Farmers' Home Journal, w. 
July 3, 1873. 

Louisville. 

The Louisville Weekly Journal, w. 
Nov. 15, 1854. 

The Southern Agriculturist, m. 
May, 1872; August, 1873. 

The Southern Bivouac, m. 

June, 1885-May, 1886. Vol. i. 



LOUISIANA. 



Neiv Orleans. 

The Daily Crescent, d. 

June 9, 30, Aug. 6, Sept. 1, Nov. 1, 1851; Jan. 21, 1852. 

The Daily Picayune, d. 

Aug. 7, Sept. 5, 25, 28, 1851. 

The Daily Delta, d. 

Sept. 13, 30, Dec. 24, 1851; Jan. 8, 15, 1852. 

New Orleans Weekly Delta, w, 
Aug. 18, 1851. 

(232) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 43 

The Daily True Delta, d. 
Nov. 10, 1854. 

The New Orleans Bee. 
Jan. 21, 1852. 

DeBow's Review, m. 

Jan.-Dec. 1857. Vols, iii and iv, in numbers. 

The Times-Democrat, d. 
June 19, Oct. 25, 1884. 

Publications of the Louisiana Historical Society. 
1895-1904. Yol. i, part 1-Vol. iii, part 2. 

The Gulf States, m. 

Jan. and Feb. 1870. Vol. i, Nos. 1 and 2. 
No more issued. 

The Southern Quarterly Review. 
See Charleston, S. C. 



MARYLAND. 



Baltimore. 

American Farmer, w. 

March 21, 1828-March 13, 1829. Vol. x. 

Mutual Rights and Methodist Protestant, w. 

Jan. 27, 1832-Nov. 23, 1832. Vol. ii. No. 4-47, whole No. 99. 
1 book. 

Weekly Clipper. 

Sept. 20, 1851; Jan. 12, 1852. 

The Presbyterial Critic and Monthly Review, m. 
1855. Vol. i. 

The Daily Baltimore Republican, d. 
June 21, 1860. 

(233) 



44 Department of Archives and History. 

The Southern Magazine, m. 

1871-1874. Vols, i-viii. Sundry numbers. 

The Day. d. 

Nov. 14, 1883. 

The Southern States, m. 

1893-1897. Vols. i-iv. Sundry numbers. 

Johns Hopkins University Studies, m. 
1899-1903. Series xvii-xxi. 

Manufacturers' Record, w. 

July, 1900-July, 1904. Vols, xxxviii-xlv. 



MASSACHUSETTS 



Andov£T. 



Journal of Humanity and Herald of the American Tem- 
perance Society. 
Feb. 10, 1831. Vol. ii. No. 38, whole No. 90. 

'Boston. 

Independent Chronicle and Boston Patriot. 
June 17, 1829; May 21, 1831; March. 1832. 

Hilliard, Gary & Go's. Literary Advertiser. 
Jan. 1834. 

Brownson's Quarterly Review. 
1844. Vol. i, pp. 548. 

Boston Daily Advertiser. 
July 9, 1844. 

The Boston Daily Bee. d. 
Jan. 12. Sept. 22, 1851. 
(234) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 45 

Boston Semi-Weekly Journal, s. w. 
Sept. 19, Dec. 27, 1851. 

Boston Evening Transcript, d. 
Feb. 9, 1883. 

The New-England Historical and Genealogical Register. 
1880-1885; 1900-1903. Vols, xxxiv-xxxix, and liv-lvii. 

Monthly Bulletin of Books Added to thie Public Library 
of the City of Boston, m. 
1896-1903. Vols, i-viii. 

American Statistical Association, qr. 
1898-1903. Vols, vl-viii. 

Literary World, m. 

1899-1903. Vols, xxx-xxxiv. 

The Club Woman, m. 

Sept., 1900-Julj% 1903. Vol. vi. No. 6-Vol. x. No. 10. 

Our Dumb Animals, m. 

1900-1903. Vols, xxx-xxxv. 

The Advocate of Peace, m. 
1900-1902. Vols. Ixi-lxii. 

Current History, m. 

1900-1903. Vols, x-xii. 

Education, m. 

1881-1885; 1898-1901. Vols, ii-v, and xix-xxii. 

Norwood. 

American Journal of Archaeology. New series, qr. 
1903. Vol. vii. 

Sdem. 

The Essex Institute Historical Collections, qr. 
1899-1903. Vols, xxx-xxxix. 
(235) 



46 Department of Archives and History. 

Williams College. 

The Adelphi. (College magazine.) 

Aug. 18, 1831-1832. Vol. i, Nos. 1-24. pp. 192. 



Worcester. 

Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society. 
1899-1903. Vols, xlli-xv. New series. 



MISSISSIPPI. 



Aberdeen. 

The Weekly Independent, w. 
Sept. 20, 1851. 

Columbus. 

Southern Standard, w. 

Oct. 4, 1851. Vol. i. No. 36. 

Corinth. 

The Corinth Harbinger, w. 

Aug. 14, 1869. Vol. i. No. 12. 

Corinth News. w. 

July 20, Aug. 3, Sept. 7, Oct. 21, 1871. 

The Dodger. 

March 9, 1873. Vol. i, No. 1. 

The Sub-Soiler. m. and vv. 

April, 1873-Dec. 12, 1874. Vol. i. No. 1-Vol. ii. No. 32. 

Jackson. 

Flag of the Union, w. 

Oct. 10, 24, 1851; Jan. 9, 30, Feb. 6. 13, 1852; Aug. 19. 26, 
1853. 

(236) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 47 

The Daily Mississippian. d. 

Sept. 25, 27, 1862. Vol. i, Nos. 125, 127. 

Natchez. 

The Natchez Weekly Courier, w. 
Jan. 14, 1852. 

Raymond. 

The Hinds County Gazette, w. 
Sept. 25, 1851. Vol. vii. No. 15. 

Vickshurg. 

The Daily Citizen. 

July 2, 1863. On wall paper; evidently a fac-simile. 



MISSOURI. 



St. Louis. 

Illustrated Journal of Agriculture, m. 
June 1, 1872. 

World's Fair Bulletin, m. 

April, 1902-Dec., 1903. Vol. iii-iv. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



Concord. 



Democratic Standard, w. 
May 12, 1860. 

(237) 



48 Department of Archives and History. 

Hinsdale. 

The Star Spangled Banner, m. 

Nov.. 1871; Jan., Feb., July, 1872; April, 1874. 



NEW YORK. 



Albion. 



The Museum, m. 

June 15, 1895. Vol. 1, No. 8. 

Buffalo. 

The Cultivator, m. 

Jan., 1841-Dec. 1847. 6 vols. 

The Buffalo Daily Courier, d. 
January 9, 1884. 

Kingston. 

Ulster County Gazette. 
January 4, 1800. 

New York City. 

The Albion, w. 

Jan. 23, 1830-Dec. 22, 1832. 1 book. 

Jan. 1, 1833-Sept. 22, 1838. 1 book. 

Jan. 19, 1839-Dec. 25, 1841. 1 book. 

The U. S. Magazine and Democratic Review, m. 
July, 1841-June, 1852. Vols, ix-xxx. 

The Weekly Herald, w. 

March 14, 1840-March 18, 1843. 1 book. 
May 17, 21, 31, June 7, July 5, 1851; Sept. 23, Oct. 30, 
1852; July 16, 23, 1853. 
(238) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 49 

The New York Herald, d. 

Aug. 30, 1861; Nov. 16, 1873; and Nov. 28, 1889. 

The New York Standard. 
Sept. 21, 1840. 

The Evening Mirror. 
Oct. 25, 1845. 

Monthly Journal of Agriculture. 
July, 1845-June, 1847. Vols. i-ii. 

New York Evening Times. 
Sept. 20, 1851. 

New York Tribune, w. and s. w, 

March 29, 1856-Feb. 17, 1857. 1 book. 
April 4, 1857-March 27, 1858. 1 book. 
April 3, 1858-March 4, 1859. 1 book. 
April 2, 1859-Dec. 29, 1861. 1 book. 
Jan. 4, 1862-Dec. 31, 1864. 1 book. 
May 2, 1865-April 10, 1866. 1 book, 
April 13, 1866-Dec. 28, 1866. 1 book. 
Jan. 1, 1867-Dec. 31, 1867. 1 book. 
Jan. 3, 1868-Dec. 29, 1868. 1 book. 
Jan. 4, 1870-Dec. 30, 1870. 1 book. 
Jan. 3, 1871-Dec. 15, 1871. 1 book. 
Jan. 2, 1872-Dec. 31, 1872. 1 book. 
Jan. 3, 1873-Dec. 30, 1873. 1 book. 
Jan. 2, 1874-Dec. 29, 1874. 1 book. 
Jan. 1, 1875-Dec. 31, 1875. 1 book. 
Jan. 4, 1876-Dec. 29, 1876. 1 book. 
Jan. 2, 1877-Dec. 7, 1877. 1 book. 
Dec. 11, 1877-June 11, 1878. 1 book. 

Contains also weekly Dec. 26, 1877-1881, irregular. 
June 14, 1878-May 30, 1879. 1 book. 
June 3, 1879-May 28, 1880. 1 book. 
June 1, 1880-May 31, 1881. 1 book. 

The first five books weekly, the remainder semi- 
weekly. 

(239) 
4 



60 Department of Archives and History. 

The Trade Journal. 
Dec. 24, 1853. 

North British Review. American edition. 
Nov., 1852-Feb.. 1854. Vols, xiii-xv. 

New York Tribune. 
July 18, 1861. 

The World. 

July 30, 1861; Oct. 28, 1868. 

Lloyd's American Railroad Weekly. 
July 27, 1861. 

The Aldine. m. 

1872. Vol. V. Sundry numbers. 

1873. Vol. vi. Total pp. 240. 

New York Day-Book. w. 

Sept. 30, 1876-Dec. 8, 1877. 

The New York Ledger, w. 

Aug. 27, 1870-Nov. 15, 1873. 

Pomeroy's Democrat, w. 

June 17, July 1, Aug. 12, 1871. 

Saturday Night, w. 

Jan. 20, 1872-Jan. 16, 1875. 

The Scientific Man. w. 
July 10, 1880. 

The Curio, m. 

Sept. 1887-Feb 1888. Vol. i. 
No more issued. 

Harper's New Monthly Magazine, m. 
Dec. 1856-May, 1857. Vol. xiv. 

Popular Science Monthly, m. 

May, 1873-October, 1874. Vols, iii-v. 

(240) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 51 

North American Review, m. 
1874-1879. Vols. 118-129. 

The International Review, m. 
1874-1880. Vols, i-viil. 

Educational Review, m. 
1891-1904. Vols, i-xxvi. 

The American Historical Review, qr. 
October, 1895-Oct., 1904. Vols. i-ix. 

Bulletin of the New York Public Library, m. 
1897-1903. Vols, i-vii. 

Political Science Quarterly, qr. 
1899-1903. Vols, xiv-xvili. 

The Library Journal, m. 

Jan., 1899-Dec., 1903. Vols, xxiv-xxviii. 

Bulletin of the American Geographical Society. 
1899-1901. Vols, xxxi-xxxiii. 

The Nation, w. 

Dec. 27, 1877-May 2, 1878. 

Jan., 1884-June, 1904. Vols, xxxix-lxxviii. 

The Bee-Keeper's Magazine, m. 
Jan.-December, 1874. Vol. il. 
Jan.-December, 1876. Vol. iv. 

The Literary Digest, w. 

Jan., 1900-June, 1904. Vols, xxi-xxviii. 

The Criterion. New series, m. 
1900-1904. Vols. i-v. 

The New York Times Saturday Review. 
May 12, 1900. 

The Wodd's Work. m. 
1901-1903. Vols, li-vi. 

The Literary News. New series, m. 
1903, Vol, xxiy. 

(241) 



52 Department of Archives and History, 

NORTH CAROLINA. 



Ashville. 



Ashville Spectator, w. 

June 22. 1853. Vol. i, No. 23. 

The Southland, qr. 

1901-1902. Vols. i-ii. 

Edenton. 

The North Carolina Historical and Genealogical Register. 
Jan., 1900-April, 1903. Vols, i-iii. 

Greensborough. 

Greensborough Patriot, w. 

April 7, 1830. Vol. i, No. 46. 

Henderson. 

North Carolina Baptist Historical Papers, qr. 
Oct., 1896-Jan., 1900. Vols, i-iii. 

Raleigh. 

Star, and North Carolina State Gazette. 
May 26, 1831. Vol. xxii, No. 22. 

The North Carolina Booklet, m. 

May. 1903-April, 1904. Vol. iii, Nos. l-'2. 



OHIO. 



Cincinnati. 



The Cincinnati Times-Star. 
July 31, 1833. 

(242> 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 53 

The Christian Baptist. 
1848. 7 vols, in 1. 

Established in Augusta Co., Va., 1823. 

American Monthly Ledger. 
Oct. 1, 1852. 

Cincinnati Daily Commercial. 
Jan., 24, 1865. 

Cleveland. 

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers' Journal, m. 
1902-1904. Vols, xxxvii-xxxviii. 

The American Antiquarian. 
See Chicago, 111. 

Columbus. 

The Archaeologist, m. 

January, 1893-Sept., 1895. Vols, i-iii. 
See also Waterloo, Ind. 

The Antiquarian, m. 

January-December, 1897. Vol. i. 
Name changed to 

The American Archaeologist, m. 

January, 1898-January, 1899. Vols, ii-iii. 

Quarterly of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical So- 
ciety, qr. 

Vol. ii, 1888-89. (1899.) 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



Philadelphia. 

The Franklin Journal, m. 
1826. Vols. i-ii. 

(243) 



54 Department of Archives and History. 

The Journal of Health, s. m. 
1830-1831. Vol. ii. 

Philadelphia Mail. 
Jan., 1832. 

The Saturday Courier. 
May 26, 1832. 

The Examiner, s. m. 

August, 1833-July, 1835. Vols. i-ii. 

The Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil, m. 
July. 1848-March, 1849. Vol. i. 

The Presbyterian. 

June 11, 1859-April 27, 1861. Sundry numbers. 

Dollar Weekly Pennsylvanian. w. 
March 24, 1860. 

The American, w. and m. 

Nov. 18, 1882; December, 1882. 

The Saturday Evening Post. w. 
Dec. 29, 1900-June 22, 1901. 

The American Historical Register, m. 
Nov., 1894; and June, 1895. 



S^OUTH CAROLINA. 



Anderson. 

The Anderson Gazette, w. 

Dec. 27, 1844; Feb. 27, 1845. Vol. ii, Nos. 3 and 9. 

Camden. 

The Camden and Lancaster Beacon, w. 

June 7, 1831. New series. Vol. i, No. 13. 
(244) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 65 

Cheraw. 



Farmers' Gazette, w. 
Sept. 24, 1844. 

Charleston. 

The Southern Agriculturist, and Register of Rural Af- 
fairs, m. 

January, 1828-Dec., 1832. Vols. i-v. 

The Southern Review, qr. 

Feb., 1828-Feb., 1832. Vols, i-viii. 

Carolina Gazette, w. 

Sept. 6, Nov. 23, 1831; May 30, 1832. 

Union and States Rights Gazette. 
Oct. 18, 1831. Vol. 1, No. 2. 

The Irishman Extra, n. d. 

Contains only a "Letter" from Rt. Rev. Doctor England 
to the Catholic citizens of Charleston, S. C, dated Au- 
gust 24, 1831. 

The Courier, d. 

March 7, 8, June 1, 2, July 25, 26, Aug. 15, 16, 22, Sept. 20, 

1831. 
Nov. 14, 1838-Dec. 31, 1840. Irregular. 

Bound with the Mercury, 1840. 
Jan. 1, 1841-Dec. 31, 1842. 1 book. 
Jan. 2, 1843-Dec. 31, 1844. 1 book. 
Jan. 1, 1845-Dec. 31, 1846. 1 book. 
Jan. 1, 1847-Dec. 29, 1848. 1 book. 
Sept. 17, 1851-Sept. 17, 1853. Sundry numbers. 

The Charleston Mercury, d. 
July 13, 14, Aug. 3, 9. 1831. 
Oct. 3, 1840-Aug. 12, 1847. Irregular. 

Bound vrith the Courier, 1838. 
July 2, 1851-Nov. 1, 1852. Sundry numberg. 
Aug. 6. 1861. 

(245) 



56 Department of Archives and History. 

The Southern Literary Journal, m. 

May, 1838. Vol. iii, No.5. New series. 

The Southern Cabinet of Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural 
and Domestic Economy, m. 

Jan.-Dec, 1840. Vol. 1, Nos. 1-12. 

The Southern Quarterly Review, qr. 

Jan., 1842-August, 1856. Vols. 1-xxvlii. 

Founded and first issued at New Orleans, La. 

The Magnolia; or Southern Apalachian. m. 
January-June. 1842. Vol. iv. 
July, 1842-June, 1843. Vols, i-ii; new series. 
See Savannah, Ga. 

The Southern and Western Masonic Miscellany, m. 
February-April, 1850. Vol. i, Nos. 3-5. 

The Palmetto Flag. 

Oct. 22, 25, 1851. Vol. i, Nos. 16 and 17. 

The Southern Standard. 

July 28, Aug. 1, Sept. 29, Oct. 4, 21, 1851; Jan. 12, 28, July 
15, 1852. 

The Evening News. d. 

July 31, Dec. 15, 1851; Jan. 24, March 1, 1852. 

Southern Christian Advocate, w. 
Aug. 12, 1853. 

The Keystone, m. 

June, 1899-May, 1904. Vols. i-v. 

The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Maga- 
zine, qr. 

January, 1900-Oct., 1903. Vols. i-iv. 

The Exposition, m. 

Dec, 1900-May, 1902. Vols. 1-ii. 
No more issued after Vol. ii, No. 5. 

(246) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 57 

Columbia. 

Columbia Telescope. 

May 20, 1831. Vol. xvii. No. 19. 
Jan. 3, 1833; extra. 

Southern Times and State Gazette, w. 
Jan. 11, 1833. Vol. iv, No. 2. 

South Carolina Temperance Advocate. 

Sept. 12, 1839, and Nov. 28, 1844. Vol. 1, No. 10. 
Sept. 11, Oct. 2, 1851. 

The Southern Chronicle, w. 

July 16-Aug. 20, 1840. Vol. 1, Nos. 3-8. 
Dec. 18, 1844-Sept. 24, 1845. 
Jan. 1, 1844. 

Bound with the Courier, 1838. 

South Carolinian, w. 

Aug. 7, 1840-Aug. 11, 1848. Vol. ii. No. 49-Vol. x, No. 60. 

The Palmetto State Banner. 

Sept. 8, 1846. Vol. i, No. 1. 

Daily States-Rights Republican, d. 

May 26, July 5, Dec. 29, 1851; Jan. 3, 5, 27, 1852. 

The Southern Presbyterian Review, qr. 
July, 1851-April, 1852. Vol. v. 
July, 1866. Vol. xvii, No. 1. 

The Daily South Carolinian, d. 
Dec. 8, 1852. 

Army Letters of "Personne." 1861-1865. 
1896. Vol. i, Nos. 1-2. 

Bdgefield. 

The Carolinian, w. 

March 13, 1830. Vol. ii, No. 53. 

(217) 



68 Department of Archives and History. 

Edgefield Advertiser, w. 

July 24, Sept. 18, Oct. 2, 1851. 

Greenville. 

The Greenville Republican, w. 

July 26, 1826-Aug. 11, 1827. Vol. 1, No. 3 et seq. 1 book. 

The Mountaineer, w. 

Jan. 10, 1829-Nov. 14, 1835. Vol. 1, No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 

June 21, 1834-Dec. 19, 1835. 1 book. 

Jan. 9, 1836-April 19, 1844. 1 book. 

Jan. 19, 1844-Oct. 29, 1847. 1 book. 

Dec. 13, 1844-Oct. 18, 1850. 1 book. 

Aug. 5, 19, 1852. 

Southern Sentinel, w. 

Aug. 4, 1832. Vol. 1, No. 7. 

The Evening Star. I2xi6 in. 
Feb. 14, 1848. 

Published by the Ladies' Fair, for the benefit of the 
Greenville Baptist Church. 

The Weekly Southern Patriot, w. 

Feb. 28, 1851-Feb. 19, 1852. Vol. i, Nos. 1-52. 1 book. 

Feb. 26, 1852-Feb. 17, 1853. 1 book. 

Feb. 24, 1853-Feb. 16, 1854. 1 book. 

Feb. 23, 1854-Feb. 15, 1855. 1 book. 

Feb. 22, 1855-Feb. 14, 1856. 1 book. 

Feb. 21, 1856-Feb. 12, 1857. 1 book. 

The Tri-Weekly Southern Patriot, t. w. 

April 22, 1851-Feb. 16, 1852. Vol. i, No. 1 et seq. 1 book. 

Hamburg. 

The Hamburg Journal, w. 

Aug. 13, 1845. Vol. vi. No. 11. 

The Republican, w. 
June 19, 1851. 

(248) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 59 

Lancaster. 

The Lancaster Ledger, w. 

June 23, 30, 1852. Vol. i. No. 21. 

Laurensville. 

Laurensville Herald, w. 

Feb. 1, 1850; Aug. 20, 1852. 

Pendleton. 

Pendleton Messenger, w. 

March 30, April 6, June 22, 29, Aug. 31, l^dl. Vol. xxiii. 

No. 8 et seq. 
Dec. 5, 1850. 

Farmer and Planter, m. 

March-December, 1850. Vol. i. 

Spartanburg. 

The Spartan, w. 

Dec. 25, 1844. Vol. ii. No. 1. 

Winnsboro. 

The Fairfield Herald, w. 

Dec. 25, 1851; Jan. 1, 15, 1852. 

Yorkville. 

Yorkville Miscellany, w. 
July 5, 1851. 

The True Remedy, w. 

Jan. 15, 1852. Vol. i, No. 16. 



(249) 



60 Department of Archives and History, 

TENNESSEE. 



Chattanooga. 

Chattanooga Gazette, w. 
Nov. 9, 1852. 

Chattanooga Daily Rebel, d. 

March 26, 1863. Vol. i. No. 198. 

The Chattanooga Daily Times, d. 
Sept. 25, 1883. 

Franklin. 

The Williamson Journal, w. 
Sept. 7, 1871. 

Knoxznlle. 

Knoxville Register and Weekly Times, w. 
Sept. 2 ,1840. 

Tennessee Farmer, m. 

Jan.-Dec, 1840. Vol. v, Nos. 1-12, pp.' 96. 
Bound with Railroad Advocate, infra. 

University of Tennessee Record, b. m. 

June, 1898-Oct., 1900. Nos. 4-17. 6 vols. 
Jan., 1901-March, 1904. Vols, iv-vii. 

Southern Education. (Southern Educational Board.) 
March 12-Dec. 21, 1903. Vol. i, Nos. 1-20. 

Circulars of the Southern Education Board. 
April-Oct., 1902. Series i, Nos. 1-4. 

Southern Education Notes, b. m. (Southern Education 
Board). 

March 10. 1902-Feb, 10, 1903. Series I, Nos. 1-26. 
(250) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 61 

Bulletins of the Southern Education Board, qr. 
May-Dec, 1902. Vol. i, Nos. 1-3. 

The University Scientific Magazine. 
October 1897. No. 3. 

Memphis. 

The Memphis Daily Appeal, d. 

Dec. 3, 1861-March 2, 1866. Sundry numbers. 
July 22, 1864. 

Southern Monthly, m. 

February-April, 1862. Vol. 1, Nos. 6-8. 

The Memphis Scimitar, d. 
May 9, 1901. 

The Commercial- Appeal, d. 
Dec. 7, 1902. 

Nashville. 

The National Union, w. 
June 10, 1850. 

The Home Circle, m. 

August, 1856. Vol. 11, No. 8. 

Southern Agriculturist, s. m. 
May, 1872. Vol. ill, No. 1. 
August, 1873. Vol. iv, No. 4. 
1896-1903. Broken file. 

The Weekly American, w. 
Jan. 24, 1884. 

The Nashville American, d. 
June 25, 1895. 

Confederate Veteran, m. 
1893-1904. Vols, i-xil. 

(251^ 



62 Department of Archives and History. 

The American Historical Magazine, qr. 
1896-1904. Vols. i-ix. 

Magazine of Tennessee History and Biography, m. 
Jan. and Feb., 1895. Vol. 1, Nos.1-2. 
No more published. 

The Cumberland Presbyterian Quarterly, qr. 
March-December, 1902. Vol. 1, Nos. 1-4. 
No more published. 

Christian Advocate, w. 

Jan.-Dec, 1902. 1 book. 
Jan.-Dec, 1903. 1 book. 

The Methodist Quarterly Review, qr. 
Jan., 1903-April, 1904. 6 numbers. 

The Olympian, m. 

Jan.-Dec, 1903. Vols. i-ii. 
No more published. 

Pulaski. 

The Pulaski Citizen, w. 

May 13, 1897-Dec. 29, 1898. 1 book. 

Purdy. 

Purdy Weekly Gazette, w. 

May 24, May 31, June 14, 1873. Vol. i, No. 1. 

Rogersville. 

Railroad Advocate, s.-m. 

Aug. 20, 1831-June 14. 1832. Vol. i, Nos. 4-26. pp. 208. 

Sewanee. 

The Sewanee Review, qr. 

Nov., 1892-Oct., 1902. Vols. 1-x. 



(252) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 63 

TEXAS 



Austin. 

The SoLith-Westem American, t. w. 
Jan. 8, 1852, 

The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Associa- 
tion, qr. 

July, 1897-April, 1904. Vols, i-vii. 

Fort Worth. 

The Bohemian, qr. 

Nov., 1899-1904. Vols. i-iv. 

Houston. 

The Gulf Messenger. 

November, 1897. Vol. x, No. 10. 



VIRGINIA, 



Fredericksburg. 

The Christian Banner, w. 
June 14, 1862. 

The Virginia Herald, w. 
Feb. 19, 1842. 

Hampton. 

The Southern Workman, m. 

1900-1902. Vols, xxix-xxxi. Partial file. 

(253) 



64 Department of Archives and History. 

Lynchburg. 

Lynchburg Daily News. d. 
May 18, 1886. 

Richmond. 

Richmond Enquirer, 

Oct. 51, 1829-Sept. 11, 1840. Sundry numbers. 
July 1, Aug. 1, 8, Sept. 26, 1851; Jan. 13, 30, June 11, Aug. 
10, Sept. 7, 21, 1852. 

The Southern and Western Literary Messenger and Re- 
view, m. 

1846-1858. Vols, xii-xxvi. Partial files. 

The Independent Odd Fellow, m. 
March, 1846. Vol. v, No. 3. 

The Daily Richmond Enquirer, d. 
April 7, 1863. 

Daily Dispatch, d. 
July 26, 1861. 

Semi- Weekly Dispatch, s. w. 
July 23, 1861-June 13, 1862. 

Southern Illustrated News. 

July 4, 1863, March 5, 1864. 

The Age. m. 

January, 1864. Vol. i, No. 1. 

Southern Historical Society Papers, m. 
Jan.-Dec, 1876. Vols. i-ii. 

Staunton. 

The Virginias, m. 

Jan.-Dec, 1880. Vol. i, Nos. 1-12. pp. 196. 1 book. 

Winchester. 

Things and Thoughts, b. m. 

March, 1901-April, 1903. Vols, i-iii. 13 Nos. 
(254) 



Newspaper and Periodical Files. 65 

WEST YIKGINIA. 



Charleston. 

The West Virginia Historical ]^.Laga:-ine. qr, 
January, 1901-October, 1903. Vols, i-iii. 



Morgantown. 

The Transallegheny Historical Magazine, qi. 
Vol. ii, No. 1. October, 1902. 



WISCONSIN. 



Madison. 



Wisconsin State Journal, w. 
May 29, 1885. 



FOREIGN. 



Liverpool, England. 

Wilnier & Smith's European Times, s. m. 
.Jan. 4, 1846 et seq. 

London, England. 

The Morning Chronicle. 
Dec. 25, 1851. 



(855) 



o 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

THOMAS M. Owen. Director 

Bulletin No. 4 



Laws Governing 

The Department of Archives 
and History 



MONTGOMKBT, AI^A. 

THB BROWN PRINTING CO. 

PB1NTEIR9, BINCXBS AND SIATIONBKl* 

ie07 



State of Alabama 
Department of Archives and History 

Thomas M. Owen, Director 

Bulletin No. 4 



Laws Governing 

The Department of Archives 
and History 



MONXGOMKRY, AI^A. 

XHEl BKOWN PRINTING CO. 

PRXNTSRS, BITfDEJKS AND SXATIONBIKS 

1007 



r 



PREFATORY NOTE. 

This compilation is made in order to bring together in con- 
venient form all laws and parts of laws governing, or in any 
way bearing upon the Department of Archives and History, or 
which enlarge or otherwise fix the duties and activities of the 
Director of the Department. Through these laws, tlie legisla- 
tive history of the Department is made clear, and its value as 
an institutional effort will be the more readily apparent. 
Montgomery, Alabama, 
August 26, 1907. 



(259) 



CONTENTS. 

Title 1 

Prefatory Note 3 

Contents 4 

I. An Act to establish a Department of Archives 

and History 5 

II. Director of the Department the Secretary of the 

Alabama Capitol Building Commission 9 

III. Increased Appropriation for Maintenance 9 

IV. An Act to fix the Compensation of the several 

State Executive Officers 10 

V. An Act to enlarge the duties of the Department — 

Library extension and Legislative reference work. 11 
VI. An Act to make an Appropriation for furnishing 
and equipping certain of the Offices and Depart- 
ments in the State Capitol 11 

VII. An Act to provide for the Publication of State 
Papers, Official Records and of Historical Ma- 
terials 12 

VIII. An Act to provide for the Celebration of the One 
Hundredth Anniversary of the Battle of Tohopeka 

or Horseshoe Bend in 191-1 13 

IX. Libraries and Municipalities 14 

X. An Act to make an Enumeration or Census of 

Confederate Soldiers residing in Alabama 14 

XL An Act to create a Commission to erect a Statue 
of Jefferson Davis in front of the Capitol of Ala- 
bama 16 

XII. An Act to create "The Alabama Monument Com- 
mission" 17 

XIII. An Act to make an Appropriation for the erection 
of Monuments commemorating the heroic deeds of 
Alabama's Sons 19 

(260) 



LA\A/S. 



No. 476.) AN ACT (S. 526. 

To Establish a Department of Archives and History for the 
State of Alabama, to prescribe its functions and duties, 
and to provide for its maintenance. 

DEPARTMENT CREATED; OBJECTS AND PURPOSES. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Ala- 
bama, That there is established for the State of Alabama a 
"Department of Archives and History," to be located in the 
State capitol in apartments to be set aside for its use by Ihe 
Governor; and the objects and purposes of the said Depart- 
ment are the care and custody of official archives, the collec- 
tion of materials bearing upon the history of the State, and 
of the territory included therein, from the earliest times, '.he 
completion and publication of the State's official records and 
other historical materials, the diffusion of knowledge in refer- 
ence to the history and resources of the State, the encourage- 
ment of historical work and research, and the perform- 
ance of such other acts and requirements as may be enjoined 
by law. 

BOARD OF trustees; POWERS, AUTHORITY AND DUTIES. 

Section 2. Be it further enacted, (i) That said Department 
shall be under the control of a board of nine trustees, one from 
each Congressional district, and the names of the said trustees, 
with their particular terms of service, are as follows, viz : Peter 
J. Hamilton, for the First Congressional District, to serve two 
years ; Jefferson M. Falkner, for the Second District, to serve 
two years; W. D. Jelks, for the Third District, to serve two 
years ; J. H. Johnson, for the Fourth District, to serve four 
years ; W. H. Blake, for the Fifth District, to serve four years ; 
Henry B. Foster, for the Sixth District, to serve four years; 

(261) 



6 Department of Archives and History. 

Oliver D. Street, for the Seventh District, to serve six years ; 
WilHam Richardson, for the Eighth District, to serve six vears ; 
and Samuel Will John, for the Ninth District, to serve s'x 
years, the beginning of the several terms of service for the pur- 
poses of this act to be January i, 1901. (2) The said board 
shall have the power and authority to flH all vacancies occur- 
ring therein, whether by expiration of term of service, or by 
death or resignation, but the names of all newly elected mem- 
bers shall be communicated to the next ensuing regular sessi<5n 
of the State Senate for confirmation, and in case it shall reject 
any of the said newly elected trustees, it shall proceed forth- 
with to fill the vacancy, or vacancies, by an election. (3) All 
trustees appointed to succeed the present members or their suc- 
cessors whose respective terms shall have fully expired -hall 
serve for a term of six years, and appointees to fill vacancies 
by death or resignation, shall only serve out the unexpired 
terms of their predecessors. (4) The said board .shall within 
ten days after the approval of this act, proceed to organize 
said Department. It shall hold at the State capitol at least 
one regular meeting during the year, and as many special meet- 
ings as may be necessary, and at said meetings five members 
shall constitute a quorum. (5) The Governor of the State 
shall be ex-ofiicio a member of the said board, and he shall as 
far as possible, lend every encouragement to the success and 
upbuilding thereof. (6) The Director hereinafter provided 
shall be the secretary of the board. (7) The trustees shall re- 
ceive no compensation for their services other than the ami^unts 
of their traveling expenses actually paid out while in attend- 
ance on the meetings of the board or on the business of the De- 
partment. (8) The said board is empowered to adopt rules 
for its own government, and also for the government of the De- 
partment; to elect a Director, and to provide for the selection 
or appointment of other officials, or employes, as may b»^ au- 
thorized ; to provide for the publication of historical material 
pertaining to the State under the supervision of the Director; 
to have the direction and control of the marking of historic si'-es, 
or houses, and the exploration of prehistoric and Indian mounds 
and other remains existing in the State ; to control and expend 
such appropriations as may be made for the maintenance of 
the Department; and to do and perform such other acts and 

(262) 



Laws Governing- the Department. 7 

things as may be necessary to carry out the true intent and pur- 
pose of this act. 

THE director; POWERS AND DUTIES; SALARY. 

Section 3. Be it further enacted, (i) That the Department 
shall be under the immediate management and control of a 
Director, to be elected by the board of trustees, whose term 
of service shall be six years, and until his successor is elected 
and qualified. (2) He shall take an oath of office as other 
public officials, and shall be commissioned in like manner. 
(3) He shall devote his time to the work of the Department, us- 
ing his best endeavor to develop and build it up, so as to carry 
out the design of its creation, and shall receive for his services 
the sum of eighteen hundred ($1,800.00) dollars per annum, 
payable monthly, as other State officials, and a continuing ap- 
propriation for the said annual salary is hereby made. (4) He 
shall have the control and direction of the work and operations 
of the Department, he shall preserve its collections, care for 
the official archives that may come into its custody, collect as 
far as possible all materials bearing upon the history of the 
State and of the territory included therein, from the earliest 
times, prepare the biennial register hereinafter provided, dif- 
fuse knowledge in reference to the history and resources of 
the State ; and he is charged with the particular duty of gath- 
ering data concerning Alabama soldiers in the War between the 
States. (5) He shall make an annual report to the board of 
trustees, to be by them transmitted to the Governor, to be ac- 
companied by such historical papers and documents as may be 
deemed of importance by him, and the Director shall contract 
for the printing and binding of the said report, which shall 
be paid for as other public printing and binding. (6) He shall 
prepare for the press, contract for and supervise the publi- 
cation of volume two of the report of the Alabama History 
Commission, the said volume to be similar to volume one of said 
report as to printing, paper and binding, and to be paid for out 
of the public printing fund to be available after October i, 
1 901. 

DEPOSITORY FOR OFFICIAL RECORDS. 

Section 4. Be it further enacted, That any State, county 

(263) 



8 Department of Archives and History. 

or other official is hereby authorized and empowered in his 
discretion to turn over to the Department for permanent pre- 
servation therein any official books, records, documents, orig- 
inal papers, newspaper files, and printed books not in current 
use in their offices. When so surrendered copies theretrom 
shall be made and certified by the Director upon the appli- 
cation of any person interested, which certification shall has^e 
all the force and eflFect as if made by the officer originally in the 
custody of them and for which the same fees shall be charged, 
to be collected in advance. 

OFFICIAL AND STATISTICAL REGISTER. 

Section 5. Be it further enacted, That an official and sta- 
tistical register of the State of Alabama shall be compiled every 
two years by the Director, to contain : ( i ) brief sketches of the 
several State officials, the members of Congress from Alabama, 
the supreme court judges, the members of the Senate and 
House of Representatives of the State of Alabama; (2) rosters 
of all State and county officials; (3) lists of all State institu- 
tions, with officials ; (4) State and county population and elec- 
tion statistics, and (5) miscellaneous statistics; and said teg- 
ister shall be published in an edition of one thousand copies 
for free distribution, the printing and binding to be paid for 
as other printing and binding hereinbefore provided. 

ALABAMA WAR RECORDS. 

Section 6. Be it further enacted, That the Department is 
charged with the duty of making special effort to collect data 
in reference to soldiers frorri Alabama in the War between the 
States, both from the War Department at Washington, and 
also from private individuals, and to cause the same to be pre- 
pared for publication as speedily as possible. 

MAINTENANCE FUND. 

Section 7. Be it further enacted. That in addition to the sal- 
ary of the Director hereinabove appropriated, the sum of seven 
hundred ($700.00) dollars annually is hereby appropriated for 

(264) 



Laws Governing the Department. 9 

the maintenance of the said Department, and the auditor is 
hereby authorized to draw his warrant on the State treasurer 
for the whole or any part of the said amount, in such sums and 
in such manner as may be authorized by the board of trustees. 
All printing, blanks, circulars, notices, or forms, which may be 
needed for the use of the said Department, that inay be embrnc- 
ed in class four of the public printing act, shall be executed by 
the public printer, and shall be paid for as other official work 
done by him. 

Approved, Feb. 27, 1901. 



THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT THE SEC- 
RETARY OF THE ALABAMA CAPITOL 
BUILDING COMMISSION. 

By an act approved Feb. 17, 1903, the Alabama Capitol 
Building Commission was created, to consist of the Governor, 
the Attorney-general, the State treasurer. State auditor, Secre- 
tary of State, and of the Director of the Department of Ar- 
chives and History as secretary, which commission was 
"clothed with full authority and power for and in behalf of 
the State of Alabama to contract for the extension, enlarge- 
ment, or improvement of the present State capitol building, 
for the acquisition of additional grounds, for the erection or 
acquisition of any necessary additional building or buildings 
for the use of the State, and the furnishing of the same." 

The sum of one hundred and fifty thousand ($150,000.00) 
dollars was appropriated to carry out the provisions of the 
act. 

The position of secretary has been filled by the Director 
since the organization of the Commission. 



INCREASED APPROPRIATION FOR MAINTENANCE. 

The general appropriation bill, approved Feb. 13, 1903, in- 
creased the annual appropriation for maintenance from seven 

(265) 



10 Department of Archives and History. 

hundred dollars to twenty-five hundred dollars, by the follow- 
ing item : 

Section' i. Subdivision 36. "For the maintenance of the 
Department of Archives and History, twenty-five hundred dol- 
lars for each year, to be used and expended as prov'ded by the 
law governing said Department." 

The general appropriation bill, approved Feb. 7, 1907, still 
further increased the annual appropriation for maintenance, 
raising it from twenty-five hundred dollars to three thousand 
dollars, by the following item : 

Section i. Sub-division 32. "For the maintenance of the 
Department of Archives and History, three thousand dollars 
for each year to be used and expended as provided by the law 
governing said Department." 



No. 68.) AN ACT (S. 294. 

To fix the compensation of the several State executive officers, 
officers of departments and boards, subordinate officers, 
clerks, watchmen, and capitol servants, and to make ap- 
propriations therefor. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, 
That the compensation of the several State executive offi- 
cers, officers of departments and boards, subordinate officers, 
clerks, watchmen and capitol servants, and the number in each 
department shall be as follows : 

10. The salary of the Director of the Department of Ar- 
chives and History shall be two thousand five hundred dollars 
per annum, and the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars 
per annum is hereby appropriated for the payment thereof. 

Sec. 10. There shall be employed in the Department of Ar- 
chives and History clerical assistance as follows : A stenogra- 
pher whose salary shall be seven hundred and fifty dollars per 
annum, and the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars per an- 
num is hereby appropriated for the payment thereof. 

Approved, Feb. 22, 1907. 



(266) 



Laws Governing the Department. 11 

No. 255.) AN ACT (H. 240. 

To enlarge the duties of the Department of Archives and 

History. 

Be it enacted hy the Legislature of Alabama, That in addi- 
tion to the duties now required by law, the Department of 
Archives and History shall do and perform the following: 

LIBRARY EXTENSION. 

T. It shall encourage and assist in the establishment of pub- 
lic and school libraries, and in the improvement and strength- 
ening of those already in existence ; it shall give advice and 
provide assistance to libraries and library workers in library 
administration, methods and economy; and it shall conduct a 
system of traveling libraries. 

LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE WORK. 

2. It shall bring together and arrange for ready consultation 
a reference collection of materials for the use of the members 
of the Legislature, State officers and others on all subjects 
which may, from time to time, be deemed of public interest and 
importance to the people of the State. 

Approved, March 5, 1907. 



No. 679.) AN ACT (H. 10S3. 

To make an appropriation for furnishing and equipping cer- 
tain of the offices and departments in the State Capitol. 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama: 

Secton 1. That the sum of is hereby appropri- 
ated out of any monies in the State Treasury not otherwise ap- 
propriated, for the purpose of properly furnishing and equip- 
ping certain of the offices and departments in the State Capitol, 
the said sum to be apportioned and distributed to said officers 
and department as follows : 

(267) 



12 Department of Archives and History. 

(8) To the Department of Archives and History, located 
in the south wing of the Capitol, the sum of two thousand 
($2,000.00) dollars, to be expended for filing and other cases, 
shelving, tables, fixtures, wire glass windows, steel window 
shutters and grating for the public archive room ; for cabinets 
in which to display its battle flags, banners and other muPcum 
articles ; and for desks, filing and other cases, fixtures and other 
furniture, to be used in preserving and making readily accessi- 
ble the records and collections of the said Department. 

Approved, Aug. 6, 1907. 



No. 611.) AN ACT. (H. 1186. 

To provide for the publication of State papers, official records 
and of historical materials of the State of Alabama. 

Whereas, the Director of the Department of Archives and 
History under the requirements of the law establishing said 
Department, has compiled or caused to be compiled several 
volumes of important data and materials for the history of 
the State, including a full collection of the messages of the 
governors of Alabama, a collection of all laws creating counties, 
altering county boundaries, or fixing or changing county seats, 
an Alabama local history collection, a series of narrative his- 
tories or historical sketches of Alabama commands in the War 
of Secession, besides other important and valuable collections, 
as well as many valuable manuscripts, and 

Whereas, it is desirable that they be published and thereby 
made available for the use of the people of Alabama and else- 
where who may be interested in the history or life of vh.e State, 
its institutions or its public characters, therefore, 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, That the Direc- 
tor of the Department of Archives and History be and he is 
hereby authorized to contract for the printing and binding of 
the said volumes, or of any others of like character which he 
may cause to be compiled, and the State Auditor is authorized 
and directed to pay for the said printing and binding out of the 
public printing fund, on the certificate and order of the Direc- 
tor of the said Department of Archives and History. 

Approved, Aug. 6, 1907. 

(2G8) 



Laws Governing the Department. 13 

No. 600.) AN ACT (H. 1179. 

To provide for the celebration of the one hundredth anniversar>' 
of the battle of Tohopeka or Horseshoe Bend in 1914. 

COMMISSION OF SEVEN CREATED. 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama: 

Section i. That a commission of seven members is created 
for the purpose of making a study of the battle of Tohopeka 
or Horseshoe Bend, fought in the limits of the present countv 
of Tallapoosa in the State of Alabama, between the Americans 
and the Creek or Muscogee Indians, on March 27, 18 14, and 
for the purpose of preparing plans and details for the appro- 
priate celebration on or about March 27, 1914, of the one hun- 
dredth anniversarv of that historic event. 



M 



EMBERS OE COMMISSION — DUTIES AND POWERS. 



Section 2. That the said commission shall be composed of 
the Governor, the Director of the Department of Archives and 
History, and of five members to be appointed by the Governor, 
in whom is also vested the authority to fill any vacancies wliich 
may be caused by death, resignation or otherwise. The terms 
of service of the appointive members of the commission shall 
continue during the existence thereof, or until the celebration 
of the said anniversary. The commission shall have power 
to adopt rules for its government and work; and its members 
shall serve without compensation. 

REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO BE PRINTED UNDER THE SUPER- 
VISION OE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ARCHIVES AND HISTORY. 

Section 3. That the commission shall make a full and de- 
tailed report to the next ensuing regular session of the Legisla- 
ture, in which shall be set forth the results of its investigations, 
accompanied by copies of documents and maps, with such rec- 
ommendations as may be deemed desirable for carrying out the 
plans arranged for the said celebration; and under the super- 

(269) 



14 Department of Archives and History. 

vision of the Director of the Department of Archives and His- 
tory the said report shall be printed and bound, the cost thereof 
to be paid by the State auditor out of the public printing fund. 
Approved, Aug. 6, 1907. 



LIBRARIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. 

The municipal code bill, approved August 7, 1907, contains 
the following paragraph, inserted at the suggestion of the 
Director, etc. : 

Sec. 178. Cities and towns shall have the right to establish 
and maintain, or aid in establishing and maintaining public li- 
braries, either separately or in connection with the public 
schools. 

This power gives an excellent opportunity for practically 
unlimited library extension, a work now imposed upon the 
Department of Archives and History. (See supra.) 



No. 697.) AN ACT (H. 1206. 

To make an enumeration, or census, of the Confederate Sol- 
diers residing in the State of Alabama, and to provide for 
the payment therefor. 

CENSUS TO BE TAKEN BY COUNTY TAX ASSESSORS. 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama: 

Section i. It is hereby made the duty of the tax assessors 
of the State to make a full enumeration, or census, of all per- 
sons residents of their respective counties, who Served in the 
Army or Navy of the Confederate States of America, or in :my 
of the organizations of the State of their residence from 1861 
to 1865, whether as officers, enlisted men, militia, or home 
guards for local defense, or in any other military or naval ca- 
pacity in the War of Secession. 



(270) 



Laws Governing the Department. 15 

FACTS SHOWN BY CENSUS; BLANKS SUPPLIED BY DIRECTOR 

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY/ 

LISTS TO BE FILED. 

Section 2. The said enumeration, or census, shall show the 
full name, the present post office address, the date and place of 
birth, the date, the State and county of enlistment, the name and 
number of the several companies and regiments in which ser- 
vice was performed, and how such service terminated, as by pa- 
role, discharge, or imprisonment. It shall be made out on blanks 
to be prepared and supplied by the Director of the Department 
of Archives and History. After the enumeration has been 
completed, the original list shall be filed in the office of the pro- 
bate judge of the county where made, for permanent preser- 
vation, and a carefully compared copy duly certified under oath 
by the tax assessor, shall be forwarded to the Department of 
Archives and History for preservation therein. The original 
and the copy shall each be arranged alphabetically and made out 
in ink, in a legible hand, or prepared in typewriting. 

COMPENSATION HOW PAID/ APPROPRIATION FOR. 

Section 3. That the compensation for making said enumera- 
tion or census, shall be ten cents for each name enrolled under 
the provisions of this act, said sum to be paid on sworn state- 
ments of the amount due, to be checked and compared by the 
Director, and approved by the Governor ; and an appropriation 
is hereby made to cover all of said several sums ; and the State 
auditor is authorized and directed to draw his warrant in favor 
of the several tax assessors in accordance with the terms of this 
act. 

APPROPRIATION FOR BLANKS AND OTHER EXPENSES. 

Section 4. The sum of five hundred dollars, or so much 
thereof as may be necessary is hereby appropriated to cover ^he 
expense of printing the necessary blanks, circulars and forms 
to make said enumeration, or census, and for postage and trans- 
portation charges thereon. The State auditor shall draw his 
warrant to cover such expense or expenses, on bills duly re- 
ceipted therefor, certified by the Director, and approved by the 
Governor. 

(271) 



16 Department of Archives and History. 

CENSUS To BE COMPLETED IN 12 MONTHS FROM APPROVAL 

OF ACT. 

Section 5. The said enumeration, or census, shall be com- 
pleted and filed within twelve months after the passage and 
approval of this act. 

Approved, Aug. 9, 1907. 



No. 796.) AN ACT (S. 574- 

To create a commission whose duty it shall be to erect a 
statue of the late Mr. Jefferson Davis in front of the capitol 
in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, and to appropriate 
the sum of fifteen thousand dollars for the purpose of erect- 
ing such statue. 

COMMISSION OF FIVE CREATED. 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama as follows, to- 
wit: 

Section i. A commission to be composed of the Governor 
of Alabama, the Auditor of the State, the Director of the De- 
partment of Archives and History and two others to be appoint- 
ed by the Governor is hereby created for the purpose of erect- 
ing in front of the capito! in the city of Montgomery, Alabama, 
a statue of Mr. Jefferson Davis, the first president of the Con- 
federate States of America. The Governor shall be ex-officio 
president of the commission, and said commission shall elect a 
secretary. If any vacancy in said commission shall occur, such 
vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the remaining memb'^rs 
of said commission. In the proceedings of the commission each 
member thereof shall have one vote, but in case of a tie the 
president shall have another vote. 

Fifteen thousand dollars appropriated for statue 

Section 2. The sum of fifteen thousand dollars, or so much 
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the pur- 
pose of erecting said statue. 

(272) 



Laws Governing the Department. 17 

EXPENSES TO BE PAID; MEMBERS RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION. 

Section 3. The actual expense of said commission shall be 
paid out of said sum. But the members of said commission 
shall receive no compensation for their services. 

RECORD To BE KEPT; REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. 

Section 4. Said commission shall keep an accurate record 
of their proceedings and file the same in the office of the Gov- 
ernor. Said commis'sion shall also make a report to the Legisla- 
ture of Alabama of their doings in the premises. Provided, 
That the appropriation herein made shall not be available until 
the Governor shall certify to the commission that the condi- 
tion of the State Treasury will warrant the said expenditure. 

Approved, Aug. 16, 1907. 



No. 603.) AN ACT (H. 390. 

To Create "The Alabama Monument Commission." 

commission created; duties and POWERS. 

Section i. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, (i) 
That there is hereby created a commission, to be known as "The 
Alabama Monument Commission," to consist of eight Confed- 
erate Veterans, representing as nearly as possible the several 
branches of the service, to be appointed by the Governor, and 
also of the incumbents for the time being of the offices of the 
commander of the Alabama Division, United Confed- 
erate Veterans, the Commander of the Alabama Di- 
vision, United Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the 
Director of the State Department of Archives and 
History. (2) The Governor of the State shall be the 
president, and the Director above named shall be secre- 
tary and historian of the commission. (3) The commission is 
empowered to adopt rules for its guidance and for the execution 
of the powers and duties herein imposed, and five members shall 

(273) 



18 Department of Archives and History, 

constitute a quorum. (4) It shall keep a careful record of its 
proceedings and shall make an annual report to the Governor, 
to be printed as other official reports. (5) In the ordinary con- 
duct of its business and in attendance upon meetings, the mem- 
bers shall serve without charge or compensation, but if it is 
found necessar}' by the commission for a member or members 
to personally inspect or visit a military park, or other point in 
connection with the marking, monumenting, locating or identi- 
fying the same or any point or place therein, then and in such 
event the actual expenses of such member or members may be 
paid while so engaged. 

AUTHORITY OF COMMISSION TO MARK HISTORIC SPOTS. 

Section 2. That the commission shall have the authority and 
it shall be its duty to act for and to officially represent Alabama 
on all subjects, inquiries and matters connected with or grow- 
ing out of the part performed by troops from this State in the 
War between the Confederate States and the United States, 
which may arise in connection with the location and identifica- 
tion of their position or part in any battle or engagement, or 
upon any battlefield, or in connection with the appropriate de- 
termination, location, indentification or marking or such part or 
position, or in connection with the appropriate marking or mon- 
umenting of spots or occurrences made historic by their services 
or sacrifices, whether in the several militar}- parks or on some 
other battlefield, or in prison or other cemeteries, or other his- 
toric spots or places. 

commission to control expenditures of funds appropriated 

FOR monuments. 

Section 4. That the commission, unless otherwise provided, 
shall have charge of the erection and shall direct the expendi- 
ture of all appropriations for the placing of monuments, memori- 
als or markers to Alabama troops in the War as above set 
forth. 

appropriation for expenses. 

Section 4. That the sum of one thousand dollars is hereby 

(274) 



Laws Governing the Department. 19 

appropriated for the expense of the commission in the execution 
of its duties, the said sum to be drawn only on the approval of 
the Governor. 
Approved, Aug. 6, 1907. 



No. 768.) AN ACT (S. 600. 

To make an appropriation for the erection of monuments com- 
memorating the heroic deeds of Alabama's Sons, to be ex- 
pended by the Alabama Monurrient Commission, with the 
approval of the Governor. 

APPROPRIATION MADE). 

Section i. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, That 
to enable the Alabama Monument Commission to erect suitable 
and dignified monuments, in the national military parks at 
Shiloh, Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Chicamauga and at such 
other places as the monument commission may in its judgment, 
see fit to erect a monument to commemorate the heroic deeds 
of Alabamians, and suitable monuments and headstones over 
the graves of Alabamians who died in prison, there is hereby 
appropriated a sum sufficient to pay not more than twenty-five 
thousand dollars for each one of the monuments to be erected 
in the national military parks, and a sum not exceeding ten 
thousand dollars for any other monument erected by the mon- 
ument commission. 

intent Ot ACT. 

Section 2. It is the intent of this act to make the appro- 
priation available till all monuments have been erected which 
the monument commission determine should be erected, and no 
part of it shall be drawn till actually needed and with the ap- 
proval of the Governor, who may direct the expenditure for 
monuments as not to embarrass the financial condition of the 
Treasury. 



(275) 



^ 

■r^. 



20 Department of Archives and History. 

COMMISSION MAY AID COMMITTEES, OR PATRIOTIC ORGANIZA- 
TIONS IN ERECTING MONUMENTS. No MORE THAN $25,- 
000 MAY BE EXPENDED IN ANY ONE FISCAL YEAR. 

Section 3. That with the approval of the Governor the mon- 
ument commission may join with any committee of citizens in 
erecting any monument, or may supplement the amount raised 
by any camp of the United Confederate Veterans, or camp of 
the United Sons of Confederate Veterans, or Chapter of the 
United Daughters of the Confederacy, or any Ladies ]\Iemo- 
rial Association, to erect a monument. Provided, that not more 
than $25,000 be expended in any one fiscal year. 

Approved, Aug. 16, 1907. 



(276) 

LEIVIr'09 



1 



